7 Ways to Dispose of Your Industrial Waste
EHS Guru Sustainable Solutions Private Limited
Sustainable Solutions with Quality & Systems to achieve Resilience
India has about 41,523 industries in the country, which generate around 7.90 million tonnes of hazardous waste annually. Out of this, landfillable waste is about 3.32 million tonnes (42.02%), incinerable waste is about 0.60 million tonnes (7.60%), and recyclable hazardous waste is about 3.98 million tonnes (50.38%). But not all of the collected recyclable waste is being recycled due to a lack of infrastructure for collection, storage, and recycling.
The industrial waste can be classified into hazardous and non-hazardous waste coming from industries like dairy, sugar mills, paper and pulp factories, poultry, slaughterhouses, tanneries, etc.
To better handle the existing waste, industries need to be sensitized to various industrial waste disposal methods and which is best for the economy, society, and environment. This article will review multiple methods to handle industrial waste. Read on to explore these smart strategies and be part of the solution today!
This should be the most preferred step in reducing any type of waste.
Reduce the amount of waste your company produces by choosing source reduction. To achieve this, you can upgrade raw materials or the supply. The reason for this might be that higher-quality materials generate less waste. Avoid errors by adding quality checks and catch them quickly if they occur. As a result, rework and scrap are reduced. ?Audit your supplier as well and find out how they source their materials.
After receiving the packaging, speak with vendors about reusing the packaging. Don’t use large boxes for tiny items, instead, use bins or tubs since they’re reusable.?Ensure that your employees receive ongoing training to make sure that there are no delays in production. Also, consider tracking your output. This will let you find areas for improvement. Incorporate well-timed deliveries with suppliers to have fewer packaging requirements. This will protect against aging, damage, etc. Also, consider buying new equipment that’ll produce less scrap.
2. Reusing Waste
Reusing is the best way to conserve material.
Reusable absorbents are the way to go to help prevent industrial drips and leaks. Kitty litter or absorbent pads can be used for this, which offers a more sustainable solution compared to single-use products. Doing so offers more environmental protection while still providing the required protection. For the most cost-effective and eco-friendly way to clean filter bags and PPE gloves, opt for a laundering service. You can also educate your employees on conserving resources like boxes & bubble wrap, not just for business purposes but for their own personal use too.
For sustainable shipping, it is important to switch to reusable pallets while sending items. Let your vendors know that you prefer them to be used to ship products to you. If your organization produces wastewater, think about engaging in its own treatment process. Additionally, hosting a rummage sale to sell things like mats and uniforms can be an excellent way to earn extra funds for charity. You can then donate the proceeds from this sale to charity organizations. Reusable shop towels are a great way to reduce waste, improve air quality and save energy. While laundering the towels uses up some energy & water, it is still more eco-friendly than creating new rags from scratch. By using reusable towels instead, you're also reducing the amount of packaging and solid waste created.
3. Recycling and Composting
Instead of disposing of industrial waste in the ground, recycling and composting waste are much better solutions. Although some waste needs to be disposed of, such as toxic, hazardous waste, there is an opportunity to transform materials into something useful! You can participate in the fight against waste and make a difference. Motivate your employees to either reuse or recycle the materials generated by your company or industry. Incentivize or reward sustainable initiatives or actions taken by the employees.
4. Segregation
If you have any construction materials such as glass, building materials, waste & plastics, it's wise to use separate container units for them. This is because these types of items take longer to decompose & so keeping them in different containers helps manage the waste better.
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5. Plasma Gasification
Plasma gasification is a technique that takes recyclables from landfills and turns them into energy, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Heating up carbon-based materials results in syngas production. This gas can be processed into top-notch fuels or chemicals, and it can also be used for direct combustion.
Plasma gasification is an efficient waste management solution to convert non-organic material parts into slag. It is cost-effective and produces solid, bound residue that can be used as a raw material for construction projects. Furthermore, this process helps achieve a zero-waste environment, but it is better to understand the toxicity of your material before burning it so that you are not polluting the air. ?
6. Incineration
This should be the least preferred step of industrial waste disposal. The incineration of waste releases energy from heat and breaks down the combustible material into its basic components. Reducing waste this way is an inexpensive method but it produces inert ash particles and gases that can pollute the air. The extent of pollution is determined by variables such as incineration/combustion methods or natural factors. Filters can be used to check for pollution.
The energy produced from burning waste can be used for heating, cooking, and supplying power to turbines. To avoid the accidental leak of micro-level contaminants like dioxins, you must watch it closely. ??
7. Landfill
Along with incineration, landfilling should be the least preferred step in material disposal. However, it is the most common waste disposal method. Items are appropriately buried in the land, and only those that can’t be composted or recycled should be placed there. ??
Smart Ways To Remove Industrial Waste Disposal
As a result of exploring these multiple methods of industrial waste disposal, you should be well-equipped to make an informed decision on which waste disposal method you want to choose. Are you interested in reading more sustainability content? Look at our other articles on our site today.
[1] https://moef.gov.in/en/service/environment/waste-management/
Author- Piyush Soni, Ph.D Ashpreet Kaur, PhD
Editor- Ashpreet Kaur, PhD