Companies urged to reduce hazardous waste at source

Published: 31-Jan-2007


Chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers should consider the benefits of reducing hazardous waste at source to maximise their performance, says UK resource efficiency programme Envirowise.

Since the implementation of Hazardous Waste Regulations in July 2005, around 180 additional materials have been classified as hazardous. Yet the availability of UK landfill for hazardous waste is limited - as are incineration sites - meaning a transport premium is often paid by companies using these methods of disposal, in addition to the increasing cost of landfill.

Businesses in the sector are advised to examine opportunities in the following areas:

  • Vessel design: when replacing existing vessels, consider any 'blind spots' during mixing or poor drainage and ensure new vessel designs facilitate cleaning in place and automated charging/emptying.
  • Process optimisation: mass balances help to identify where the greatest losses are occurring and highlight opportunities to reduce or recycle solvents. Spillages can often be reduced by adding whole containers of material to a batch, or using automated filling.
  • Solvent management: by monitoring for losses, faulty equipment or poor operator practice, companies cancombat unnecessary solvent consumption at the outset. Solvent waste can also be tackled via a Solvent Management Plan that identifies a systematic approach to eliminating or reducing solvent use and optimising re-use or recovery.
  • Water management: a large proportion of hazardous waste leaving a manufacturing site may be in solution. Careful metering and measurement, as well as improved cleaning practices, production scheduling and efficient vessel design can all help reduce waste in solution.
'Many larger companies will already be following improvement programmes covering some of these areas, as part of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regulations,' said Geoff Leaver, chemicals specialist at Envirowise. 'But smaller companies too could see the benefits of reducing hazardous waste at source and reducing their overall waste management costs in the longer term.'

Envirowise will be working with companies across the sector during the next 12 months to provide free support and advice on reducing hazardous waste. This will include directing them to expert advice regarding the forthcoming REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) Regulation that will become law on 1 June, 2007.

REACH will set a framework for assessing the environmental and health risks of chemicals. Under this regulation, the onus will be on each and every business to demonstrate that its products are safe, which could involve the substitution of hazardous chemicals with safer ones.

Envirowise is keen to hear from any UK business, large or small, looking to learn more about cutting hazardous waste in the chemicals and pharmaceutical sectors. Companies can also download a useful publication called Practical Ways to Manage and Minimise Hazardous Waste at www.envirowise.gov.uk/GG490

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