Chapter 6.7 Transitional technologies

1. Chapter 6.7 Transitional technologies TRP Chapter 6.7 1

2. Evolution of a hazardous waste management system INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS LEGISLATION FACILITIES IMPLEMENTATION & ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTSERVICES STAKEHOLDERS Source: David C Wilson 1993, 1999 TRP Chapter 6.7 2

3. How to begin developing a hazardous waste management system? • First: • Understand how HWM systems are put together • Compare and contrast different national approaches • Understand the existing local system • Then: • Choose the ‘best of the rest’ from around the world • Adapt these to local needs and circumstances • Build a unique local system TRP Chapter 6.7 3

4. How easy will the journey be for a developing economy? Advantage: ability to learn from experience and mistakes of industrialised countries in last 20-25 years • Disadvantages: • lack of funds • lack of awareness • lack of skills • lack of infrastructure TRP Chapter 6.7 4

5. The implementation conundrum No hazardous waste treatment facilities = no controls over hazardous waste generators No controls = no waste to treatment facilities • High costs exacerbate problem • eg Hong Kong facility cost >US $150 million • Finance: • beyond capacity of most governments in developing economies • needs to come from private sector or international lending body • needs government assurance TRP Chapter 6.7 5

6. Taking the first steps • Long lead time: timeframe between recognising problem and having treatment and disposal facility for hazardous wastes is 5-10 years • Need to win political support for: • imposing extra burden on industry • siting facility • carrying out EIA • obtaining planning permission • dealing with local opposition (not-in-my-back-yard or NIMBY syndrome) • It is better to do something now than to investigate for too long TRP Chapter 6.7 6

7. Useful first steps • Document and quantify problem • Designate and train responsible staff • Control water pollution and solid wastes • Introduce interim treatment/disposal measures • Address early measures for waste minimisation • Raise public/political awareness • Obtain appropriate independent advice TRP Chapter 6.7 7

8. Transitional Technologies used by industrialised countries 1 Source: David C Wilson 1993 TRP Chapter 6.7 8

9. Transitional technologies used by industrialised countries 2 • No longer available: • dumping at sea • incineration at sea • exportto developed countriesfor treatment and disposal - increasingly more difficult under the terms of the Basel Convention • co-disposal of hazardous wastes with municipal solid wastes • already banned in many countries • being phased out under the terms of EU Landfill Directive TRP Chapter 6.7 9

10. Advantages of transitional technologies • Identification of waste generators • Raised awareness • Improved information for planning • Experience for managers and control staff • Reduced temptation to dispose improperly TRP Chapter 6.7 10

11. Overcoming the disadvantages of transitional technologies • Set firm deadlines on use • Segregate wastes • Control after-use • Maintain good operational control • Keep records • Ban imports TRP Chapter 6.7 11

12. Examples of transitional technologies1 Short term measures • Export • Encapsulation • Solar evaporation TRP Chapter 6.7 12

13. Examples of transitional technologies2 Low cost longer term measures • Waste avoidance and minimisation • Simple chemical treatment • Fuel blending for cement kiln incineration TRP Chapter 6.7 13

14. Examples of transitional technologies3 Medium term measures • Co-combustion in existing furnaces • Co-disposal in municipal solid waste landfill sites • Simple cement-based solidification TRP Chapter 6.7 14

15. Early measures for waste minimisation TRP Chapter 6.7 15 Source: David C Wilson 1993

16. Export (to a developed country) • Only acceptable: • In the short term • On a small scale • To properly managed and operated ‘high tech’ facilities • Example: PCBs for high temperature incineration from Middle East to UK TRP Chapter 6.7 16

17. Encapsulation • Short term option only • Suitable for high hazard waste • Pack securely in metal drums • Cast in fours in metal drums • Label, keep records TRP Chapter 6.7 17

18. Solar evaporation • Useful for drying aqueous sludges • Use depends on climate and season • Strictly as short term option, in isolated areas under controlled conditions, has been used for small quantities of volatile organic solvents eg Arabian desert TRP Chapter 6.7 18

19. Co-combustion in existing industrial furnaces • Beware air pollution problems • Do not use in domestic boilers • Do not use in cooking • Use in industrial boilers with care • Best option is use in cement kiln TRP Chapter 6.7 19

20. Co-disposal • Controlled mixing of selected hazardous wastes in sanitary landfill • Aims at biodegradation of organic constituents in hazardous waste • Can also attentuate concentrations of non-organic constituents Requirements: • Proper sanitary landfill for MSW • Good management and control • Restricted range of acceptable wastes • Restricted loading rates TRP Chapter 6.7 20

21. Cement-based solidification Source: David C Wilson 1990 TRP Chapter 6.7 21

22. Cement-based solidification -case studies • Brisbane, Australia: • Simple solidification in clay cells at a landfill site • facility in operation since 1982 • solidification of liquid hazardous wastes with fly ash and cement kiln dust • wastes treated in clay cells in a separate area at landfill • Cape Town, South Africa: • Incorporation of tetraethyl lead (TEL) sludges in concrete • special precautions to protect workers • blended concrete used for road on landfill site • process carried out during dry summer months TRP Chapter 6.7 22

23. Simple physico-chemical treatment • Physico-chemical treatment is part of a long-term solution • Technologies are simple and cost-effective • Easy to operate and maintain • Simplest plants use batch operation • GOOD TRAINING AND SUPERVISION ARE ESSENTIAL TRP Chapter 6.7 23

24. Simple physico-chemical treatment - case study Bangkok treatment facility Source: David C Wilson TRP Chapter 6.7 24

25. Co-combustion in cement kilns • Can be used as interim treatment method while dedicated waste treatment facilities being developed, as well as a long term solution • Useful in countries with established cement industry, operational cement kilns • Offers reduced fuel costs for cement production • Large capacity • Suited for various waste types • Constraints: • lack of trained personnel • concerns of cement kiln operators • cost and sophistication of trial burns • lack of detailed technical data on each facility • anxiety about accident risks • about accident risks TRP Chapter 6.7 25

26. How to move from transitional solutions to long term ones • Ensure the use of short and medium term solutions are brought to an end by imposing a time limit • Tighten permit conditions gradually • Use landfill fees to fund new technologies • Make sure the public is aware of the issues • Landfill has a strategic role during the transition TRP Chapter 6.7 26

27. Chapter 6.7 Summary • Developing an integrated hazardous waste management system is complex, takes time, money and political support • Developing economies have advantages and disadvantages, but need to start somewhere • Transitional technologies offer solutions but have drawbacks • Some are short term, some medium term • Some longer term, but low cost • Need to move gradually from transitional technolgies to long term ones TRP Chapter 6.7 27