Waste Minimization

Waste minimization is an important element of sustainable development. It is concerned with environmental protection and with the reduction of production costs by the reduction of waste at source and by recycling. This guide provides an introduction to the many practical techniques which can be implemented to minimize waste, ranging from simple good housekeeping practice to sophisticated computational and life cycle methods. The book also provides a widely-accepted methodology which can be followed to ensure that waste minimization programmes and projects are successfully implemented.

Source Reduction and Waste Minimization is the second volume in the series Advanced Zero Waste Tools: Present and Emerging Waste Management Practices. It addresses processes and practices for waste minimization to support efforts to promote a more sustainable society and provide readers with a proper understanding of the major mechanisms followed for waste minimization across fields. Despite being one of the major challenges mankind is facing to establish a sustainable society, waste minimization techniques are not broadly adopted and an organized collection of these techniques with corresponding evidence of results is not available currently. This book covers numerous mechanisms supported by scientific evidence and case studies, as well as in-depth flowcharts and process diagrams to allow for readers to adopt these processes. Summarizing the present and emerging zero waste tools on the scale of both experimental and theoretical models, Advanced Zero Waste Tools is the first step toward understanding the state-of-the-art practices in making the zero-waste goal a reality. In addition to environmental and engineering principles, it also covers economic, toxicologic, and regulatory issues, making it an important resource for researchers, engineers, and policymakers working toward environmental sustainability. Uses fundamental, interdisciplinary, and state-of-the-art coverage of zero waste research to provide an integrated approach to tools, methodology, and indicators for waste minimization Covers current challenges, design and manufacturing technology, and sustainability applications Includes up-to-date references and web resources at the end of each chapter, as well as a webpage dedicated to providing supplementary information

The purpose of this book is to provide a base of information and analysis to assist in implementation of the policy of reducing and/or minimizing hazardous waste generation in manufacturing and more specifically in the process industries. What is the significance of reducing the generation of all process wastes? This book examines the technical nature of waste reduction and the extent to which waste reduction can likely be implemented. Also explored is the extent to which technology itself, as well as information and resources, is a barrier to waste reduction. In what ways are waste reduction decisions dependent on specific circumstances? Can the amount of feasible waste reduction be estimated? Auditing of manufacturing and unit operations and processes are particularly significant and useful in the chemical process industries (food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizer, petrochemicals, etc.) since it is estimated that these industries account for more than half of the hazardous wastes generated. This book presents a compilation of complete information on potential sources of waste loss or generation through technical inspection. Also presented are calculation methods for determining air-waste-solid wastes material balances, informational requirements and waste reduction analysis.The reader should find the book useful in the areas of auditing and waste minimization. It is replete with useful information as well as specific case histories, which should make it a practical tool for the user.

This nuts and bolts book addresses specific waste minimization and pollution prevention techniques that work in specific types of laboratories for specific wastestreams. Concepts in the book may be directly applied to laboratory operations. In addition, the book illustrates other approaches to laboratory pollution prevention, such as reducing wastewater discharges and fume hood emissions. A wide range of waste types, including hazardous, infectious, medical, PCB, and radioactive, are discussed. This book helps you to develop a broad, institutional framework to plan and set priorities for pollution prevention. It responds to your laboratory's critical need to have readily available techniques and concepts for waste minimization and pollution prevention.

This book, designed to assist industrial engineers and managers in making changes in purchasing, manufacturing, and waste handling practices to reduce the costs and liabilities of waste disposal, begins by defining waste minimization in the first two chapters. A description of the economic and regulatory incentives a company has for setting up a waste minimization program follows, and unsuccessful projects are related. Based on these experiences, a method is outlined for companies to use to establish a waste minimization program and implement individual projects.