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 Envirowise. The UK resource efficiency programme believes time invested now in identifying the best techniques to cut hazardous waste at source could spell financial rewards over the longer term.

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.

'Measuring and managing environmental impact is now a strategic business issue and manufacturers in this sector have much to gain from exploring new opportunities for minimising hazardous waste,' said Geoff Leaver, chemicals specialist at Envirowise.

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

  • Vessel design: larger volume chemical manufacturing processes frequently use vessels for mixing, reaction and product separation. 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: for both batch and continuous manufacturing processes it is important to optimise the yield achieved. 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 arranging to add whole containers of material to a batch, or using automated filling. Setting monthly or annual benchmarks for product yield can also provide a valuable guide to overall efficiency.
  • Solvent management: organic solvents are used extensively throughout the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, as both reaction solvents and as cleaning agents. By monitoring for losses, faulty equipment or poor operator practice, companies can help combat 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, meaning the management of water and its role as solvent, reagent, dilutent or washing medium is crucial. 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 Leaver. '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.

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