cara - waste management that doesn't cost the earth waste management - industry best practice...

Cara - Waste Management That Doesn't Cost The Earth

WASTE MANAGEMENT WASTE MANAGEMENT --

INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICEINDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE

Dr. Peter CoulahanDr. Peter CoulahanCara Group Safety ManagerCara Group Safety Manager

A PRESENTATION MADE TO UCD ON BEHALF OF THE A PRESENTATION MADE TO UCD ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL UNITUNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT

NOVEMBER 25 NOVEMBER 25THTH 2003. 2003.


General Waste Management ProvisionsGeneral Waste Management Provisions

Implement an integrated approach to waste management. This helps facilitates legal compliance and to reduce costs.

Conduct studies to identify areas of potential wastage and material overuse.

Identify all your waste streams and their volumes, and which streams are hazardous.



Separate hazardous and non hazardous waste streams and implement procedural controls to prevent cross contamination of waste streams.

Separate normal municipal type waste from ‘perceived’ hazardous / lab wastes.



Identify suitable waste streams for recycling, reuse onsite or reuse by third parties.

Segregate recyclable / reusable / commercially valuable wastes from other waste materials.



Identify and assess potential suitable waste management companies for the collection / recycling / disposal of both hazardous and non hazardous wastes.

Audit subcontractors and final destinations to ensure adherence with all the provisions of the Waste Management Act and associated statutory provisions.



Maintain records for every load removed off site, especially hazardous wastes.

Regularly audit subcontractors to ensure ongoing legal and corporate compliance.

Obtain waste disposal certificates for all material removed off site.



Draw up SOP’s; Policy Documents, Audit Schedules, etc.

Regularly audit the waste management system to identify areas for waste reduction and its effectiveness.

Integrated waste management reduces waste volumes and lowers costs.


Non Hazardous WastesNon Hazardous Wastes

Segregate waste at source.

Remove the recyclable wastes from the non recyclable, e.g. separate plastics from paper and card.

Bale paper and card on site to reduce volumes leaving site.


Non Hazardous WastesNon Hazardous Wastes

Compact non paper and card wastes on site, e.g. drinks cans.

Implement a recycling programme.

Implement an educational programme to encourage people to utilise resources more efficiently.


Office Hazardous WastesOffice Hazardous Wastes

Batteries / Printer Cartridges / Toner Cartridges / Fluorescent Light Tubes / WEEE

Educate personnel as to the nature of office hazardous wastes - all of the above are classed as hazardous wastes.

Install bring bins in designated areas to ensure the correct disposal of these items.


Chemical WastesChemical Wastes

Consider the cost of the disposal when purchasing a chemical for use, e.g. temperature sensitive compounds may be expensive to dispose of in bulk.

Consider the feasibility of disposal when purchasing some of the more difficult chemicals to dispose. Are suitable disposal outlets available?



Do not buy in bulk if you do not need to.

Segregate different classes of waste stream where the opportunity arises, e.g. do not mix halogenated with non halogenated solvents if you can avoid it. Halogenated solvents are more expensive to dispose of.



If possible bulk up similar chemicals into larger containers, e.g. bulk compatible waste solvents into 200l drums.

Implement management controls to ensure correct management of hazardous waste streams.



Manage research students to ensure that no legacies are being left behind.

Ensure that all ‘products’ of postgraduates and researchers are properly labelled and their properties are fully understood.



Ensure all chemical wastes are clearly labelled and have traceability.

Dispose of wastes promptly. Do not allow wastes to accumulate.



Be aware of the potential for chemical wastes material to become unstable if left for long periods, e.g. picric acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol, isopropyl ether.



When potentially unstable materials such as peroxide forming chemicals are purchased implement proper management controls to ensure that they are labelled with the date that they were opened and that they are disposed of before they become unstable, e.g. isopropyl ether – 3 months, THF – 6 months, stryene – 1 year.



Can chemicals be treated on site through a process that produces a less hazardous material or a material that may be discharged to a WWTP or drain under a TEDL?, e.g. treatment of acid / alkalis through neutralisation.


Biological WastesBiological Wastes

Before commencing work ensure that a suitable waste outlet or in-house treatment procedure is available for the expected biological material.

Separate biological / clinical wastes into those potentially infectious to man or animals and those which are not.


Biological WastesBiological Wastes

Use only licensed treatment plants.

If treating material on site obtain validation of the treatment process and dispose of the treated product through an experienced waste management company.


SharpsSharps

Separate sharps contaminated with hazardous materials from those which are not.

Separate sharps contaminated with chemical waste from those which are contaminated with clinical / biological wastes.


SharpsSharps

Place all sharps into suitable purpose designed storage bins.


Waste Electronic & Electrical EquipmentWaste Electronic & Electrical Equipment

Install designated bins / containers for the receipt of WEEE only.

Identify suitable outlets for the WEEE.

Educate personnel as to the fact that WEEE is hazardous waste.


Waste Disposal – Current Situation Waste Disposal – Current Situation Hazardous WastesHazardous Wastes

At present there are no commercially operated incinerators in Ireland.

Hazardous chemical waste goes to the continent or the UK for treatment / energy recovery /incineration.

A small amount is treated in Ireland.



There are plans for commercial incinerators in Ireland but the planning process is slow.

There is very limited landfill availability for hazardous wastes within the state – only construction waste asbestos.



There are EPA approved clinical waste treatment plants operating within Ireland.


Waste Disposal – Current Situation Waste Disposal – Current Situation Non Hazardous WastesNon Hazardous Wastes

Currently most municipal waste goes to landfill or for further treatment / recovery in Ireland.

A relatively small amount is sent abroad. The UK is no longer accepting non hazardous wastes from Ireland.

Landfill capacity is greatly reduced and is finite.


An integrated approach to waste management is both financially and commercially advantageous. Within Ireland it is becoming standard practice in the pharmaceutical and allied industries.

In the United States most Universities have Integrated Waste Management Plans, whilst all have a Hazardous Waste Management Plan as required under US law (many of these are available on the web).

cara - waste management that doesn't cost the earth waste management - industry best practice...

Documents

cara waste management

integrated waste management

waste management system

waste management act

waste volumes

waste materials

waste reduction

suitable waste streams