Industrial Waste Minimization Research Articles

Environmental and safety risk assessment for sustainable circular production: Case study in plastic processing for fashion products

Even if sustainability and circularity are the most challenging goals today, industrial waste minimization is rarely discussed and practical methods to reduce risks related to hazardous waste in manufacturing processes are not frequently applied yet. The case of Italian company specialized in plastic processing for fashion products, has the chance to design and test a new integrated methodology to reduce the risks for ecosystem and workers associated to hazardous waste. Focusing the attention to standard operations, extraordinary conditions, and emergency situations, all activities included in waste collection, storage and transport are identified and the risks associated to the environmental impacts and the occupational health&safety are analysed. Research results demonstrate the opportunity to adopt one method to analyse both environmental and health&safety risks associated to activities and conditions involved in industrial waste management. The case study confirms the relevance of integrated approaches and the necessity of simplified tools to support companies in adopting integrated risk management.

Evaluation of Practicing sustainable Industrial Solid Waste Minimization by Manufacturing Firms in Malaysia: Strengths and Weaknesses.

Malaysia is facing an increasing trend in industrial solid waste generation due to industrial development.Thus there is a paramount need in taking a serious action to move toward sustainable industrial waste management. The main aim of this study is to assess practicing solid waste minimization by manufacturing firms in Shah Alam industrial state, Malaysia. This paper presents a series of descriptive and inferential statistical analysis regarding the level and effects of practicing waste minimization methods, and seriousness of barriers preventing industries from practicing waste minimization methods. For this purpose the survey questions were designed such that both quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (semi-structures interview) data were collected concurrently. Analysis showed that, the majority of firms (92%) dispose their wastes rather than practice other sustainable waste management options. Also waste minimization methods such as segregation of wastes, on-site recycle and reuse, improve housekeeping and equipment modification were found to have significant contribution in waste reduction (p<0.05). Lack of expertise (M=3.50), lack of enough information (M= 3.54), lack of equipment modification (M= 3.16) and lack of specific waste minimization guidelines (M=3.49) have higher mean scores comparing with other barriers in different categories. These data were interpreted for elaborating of SWOT and TOWS matrix to highlight strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. Accordingly, ten policies were recommended for improvement of practicing waste minimization by manufacturing firms as the main aim of this research. Implications This manuscript critically analysis waste minimization practices by manufacturing firms in Malaysia. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis were conducted to formulate SWOT and TOWS matrix in order to recommend policies and strategies for improvement of solid waste minimization by manufacturing industries. The results contribute to the knowledge and the findings of this study provide a useful baseline information and data on industrial solid waste generation and waste minimization practice.

A Study on Engineering Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete Containing Waste LCD Glass

This study investigates self-compacting glass concrete(SCGC), which was used at water-to-binder ratios (w/b) of 0.28, with four kinds of glass sand replaced at various volume replacement ratios (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%). Fly ash, blast furnace slag and superplasticizer were also added to research the engineering properties of concrete. With increasing amounts of replacement up to 30%, results show that: (1) slump flow and V-funnel time are increased; (2) 340 mm is passed at 0min, and the filling level is elevated at 45 min; (3) the compressive strength of SCGC aged 28 days at various replacement ratios rises up to 60 MPa. The ultrasonic pulse velocity and electrical resistance are also enhanced with increasing age and replacement. After 56 days, the electric resistivity is higher than 20 KΩ-cm, and the shrinkage of SCGC falls within 0.2%. This study suggests than SCGC has superior engineering properties. A mechanism for LCD optical waste glass usage can be established to achieve industrial waste minimization, resource recycling, and economic security

Building the "Waste Audit Process" for industrial waste minimization at manufacturing units of Vietnam

Building the "Waste Audit Process" for industrial waste minimization at manufacturing units of Vietnam

Working towards a zero waste environment in Taiwan

It is essential to the achievement of zero waste that emphasis is concentrated on front-end preventions rather than end-of-pipe (EOP) treatment. Zero waste is primarily based on cleaner production, waste management, the reduction of unnecessary consumption and the effective utilization of waste materials. The aim of this study was to briefly review the tasks undertaken and future plans for achieving zero waste in Taiwan. Waste prevention, source reduction, waste to product, waste to energy, EOP treatment, and adequate disposal are the sequential principal procedures to achieve the goal of zero waste. Six strategies have been adopted to implement the zero waste policy in Taiwan. These are regulatory amendments, consumption education, financial incentives, technical support, public awareness, and tracking and reporting. Stepwise targets have been set for 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2020 for both the municipal solid waste (MSW) and industrial waste to reach the goal of zero waste. The eventual aim is to achieve 70% MSW minimization and 85% industrial waste minimization by 2020. Although tools and measures have been established, some key programmes have higher priority. These include the establishment of a waste recycling programme, promotion of cleaner production, a green procurement programme, and promotion of public awareness. Since the implementation of the zero waste policy started in 2003, the volume of MSW for landfill and incineration has declined dramatically. The recycling and/or minimization of MSW quantity in 2007 was 37%, which is much higher than the goal of 25%. Industrial waste reached almost 76% minimization by the end of 2006, which is 1 year before the target year.

Study of thin film transition liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) optical waste glass applied in early-high-strength controlled low strength materials

The present study verifies compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, electrical resistance,permeable ratio, and shrinkage from waste glass controlled low strength materials (WGCLSM) and early-high-strength WGCSLM specimens, by replacing the sand with waste glass percentages of 0%, 10%,20%, and 30%. This study reveals that increasing amounts of waste LCD glass incorporated into concrete increases WGCLSM fluidity and reduces the setting time, resulting in good working properties. By increasing the glass to sand replacement ratio, the compressive strength decreases to achieve low-strength effects. Furthermore, the electrical resistance also rises as a result of increasing the glass to sand replacement ratio. Early-high-strength WGCSLM aged 28 days has twice the electrical resistance compared to general WGCSLM. Early-high-strength WGCSLM aged 7 days has a higher ultrasonic pulse velocity similar to WGCSLM aged 28 days. The variation of length with age of different compositions is all within the tolerance range of 0.025%. This study demonstrates that the proper composition ratio of waste LCD glass to sand in early-high-strength WGCSLM can be determined by using different amounts of glass-sand. A mechanism for LCD optical waste glass usage can be established to achieve industrial waste minimization, resource recycling, and economic security.

Industrial waste minimization - experience from Lithuania

Waste represents the loss of both material and energy resources. Because excessive waste generation is a symptom of inefficient production processes, low durability of goods and unsustainable consumption patterns, waste quantities can be considered as an indicator of how efficiently society uses raw materials. Therefore, good waste management begins with preventing waste from being generated. The objective of this paper is to present the work related to waste minimization in Lithuania by introducing successful examples from industry, to bring ideas and inspiration to authorities, companies, and others working in the field of waste minimization. The paper is supporting EU waste policy manifested in the EU waste strategy and the proposed Sixth Environmental Action Programme. Many enterprises are still unaware of the full costs of waste management. Therefore, by applying the methodology presented in the paper, companies could make substantial reductions in their waste, and therefore, disposal costs. Waste minimization (WM) often results in substantial savings through reduced purchasing costs and more efficient practices. It also has wide environmental benefits such as reduced energy consumption and less environmental pollution, conservation of natural resources and extension of valuable landfill capacity. Therefore, waste prevention should have the highest priority in waste strategies, as this is the only way to stop the growth of the amount of waste and reduce the loss of resources (EUC Bulletin 12, 1996).

Government policies for encouraging industrial waste reuse and pollution prevention in Taiwan

In order to conservatively utilize natural resources, Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), has mandated the regulatory system and promotion programs for industrial waste reuse and pollution prevention. The newly-designated 43 items for reuse were promulgated by the MOEA under the authorization of the Waste Disposal Act (WDA) in January 2002. Also, joint efforts at industrial waste minimization (IWM) have made noteworthy progress towards the promotion of reusing/reducing industrial waste since 1990. The IWM program not only provides technical assistance and financial incentives, but also enhances resource reuse and conservation through Industrial Waste Exchange Information Service Center. These measures have brought significant benefits by saving treatment/disposal costs and improving productivity. This paper presents the regulatory system and implementation promotion on industrial waste reuse and pollution prevention in Taiwan.

Application of Bayesian decision networks to life cycle engineering in Green design and manufacturing

Environmental impact assessment of design and manufacturing decisions have received significant attention in the recent years. Researchers have not only focused on industrial waste minimization and chemical substitution in processes or products, but also on the effect of product design decisions on the environment during the manufacturing, in-use and end-of-life stages of the product. This research investigates the applicability of Bayesian decision networks to study the impact of design decisions on the life cycle performance, including environmental friendliness, of a product. Bayesian decision theory provides a normative framework for representing and reasoning about decision problems under uncertainty. A framework for integrated analysis of the product life cycle is presented. We discuss the specification of domain models for wide range of processes, such as manufacturing, recycling and disposal, an action model, and an utility model.

Waste minimization program in Shuaiba Industrial Area

The Shuaiba Industrial Area (SIA) is located about 50 km south of Kuwait City. It accommodates most of the large-scale industries in Kuwait. The total area of the SIA (both eastern and western sectors) is about 22.98 million m2. Fifteen plants are located in the eastern sector and 23 in the western sector, including two petrochemical companies, three refineries, two power plants, a melamine company, an industrial gas corporation, a paper products company and, two steam electricity generating stations, in addition to several other industries. Therefore, only 30 percent of the land in the SIA's eastern sector and 70 percent of land in the SIA's western sector is available for future expansion. Presently, industries in the SIA generate approximately 204,000 t of solid waste. With future development in the industries in the SIA, the estimated quantities will reach 240,000 t. The Shuaiba Area Authority (SAA), a governmental regulatory body responsible for planning and development in the SIA, has recognized the problem of solid waste and has developed an industrial waste minimization program. This program would help to reduce the quantity of waste generated within the SIA and thereby reduce the cost of waste management. This paper presents a description of the waste minimization program and how it is to be implemented by major petroleum companies. The protocols employed in the waste minimization program are detailed.

Industrial waste minimization initiatives in Thailand: concepts, examples and pilot scale trials

Industrial waste pollution control is a major issue in waste management. To comply with the specific effluent standards, industries are forced to treat their waste before discharge. This is neither a cost effective nor an environmentally friendly solution. The first part of this paper presents different techniques by which the waste minimization can be achieved with examples. The second part of the paper highlights the waste minimization efforts made in three different types of industries, namely paper and pulp, tapioca starch and palm oil.

Waste minimization program in Shuaiba industrial area

The Shuaiba Industrial Area (SIA) is located about 50 km south of Kuwait City. It accommodates most of the large-scale industries in Kuwait. The total area of the SIA (both eastern and western sectors) is about 22.98 million m2. Fifteen plants are located in the eastern sector and 23 in the western sector, including two petrochemical companies, three refineries, two power plants, a melamine company, an industrial gas corporation, a paper products company and, two steam electricity generating stations, in addition to several other industries. Therefore, only 30 percent of the land in the SIA's eastern sector and 70 percent of land in the SIA's western sector is available for future expansion.Presently, industries in the SIA generate approximately 204,000 t of solid waste. With future development in the industries in the SIA, the estimated quantities will reach 240,000 t.The Shuaiba Area Authority (SAA), a governmental regulatory body responsible for planning and development in the SIA, has recognized the problem of solid waste and has developed an industrial waste minimization program This program would help to reduce the quantity of waste generated within the SIA and thereby reduce the cost of waste management.This paper presents a description of the waste minimization program and how it is to be implemented by major petroleum companies. The protocols employed in the waste minimization program are detailed.

Waste Generation and Minimization in Semiconductor Industry

This paper provides an overview of both the semiconductor industry and waste minimization. As a paper published by an organization of civil engineers, it is especially helpful to those who are not entirely familiar with disciplines more common to industry., i.e., chemical, mechanical, electrical, and others. This material will be particularly helpful to those who need to explain industrial-waste minimization to new employees, policy makers, and the public. The author highlights the significance of the following: (1) the discussion of section 313 of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA 313); and (2) the discussion of the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA). Both of these allude to the evolving concept of pollution prevention as an extension of waste minimization.

Waste Minimization Study for a Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Facility in Taiwan

This paper presents a demonstration of industrial waste minimization sponsored by the Environmental Protection Administration, Taiwan, ROC. Waste reduction opportunities are identified and evaluated for a printed circuit board manufacturing facility in Taiwan. Plant audits were conducted on various processes, such as deburring, alkaline etching, black oxidation, desmearing, electroless copper, and copper and tin/lead plating. Specific areas in which the wastes could be minimized, such as reduction of the amount of dragout and rinse water requirements in the plating and etchant lines and onsite treatment and reuse of spent bath solutions, were identified, assessed, and implemented. Jar tests on the wastewater were performed, and the results were used to improve the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant for removal of heavy metals and reduction of sludge generation. In addition, administrative controls of hazardous wastes designed to reduce associated health and environmental hazards were recommended.