Factories and manufacturing companies are responsible for generating a plethora of hazardous, non-biodegradable, and non-recyclable industrial waste. Industrial establishments in the UK produce more than 41 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste every year.
Looking for ways to manage & reduce industrial waste? When this type of waste isn’t disposed of correctly, it pollutes the air and water in the area, thereby affecting its biodiversity and the health of those living nearby.
These organisations must follow the waste hierarchy so that the preference is always to avoid producing waste in the first place. Opportunities to safely reuse or recycle materials are preferable to disposal.
Types of Industrial Waste:
Industrial waste encompasses a broad spectrum of materials generated by manufacturing, production, and other industrial processes. Understanding the different types of industrial waste is essential for implementing effective waste management strategies and minimizing environmental impact. Here are some of the most common types of industrial waste:
1. Solid Waste:
Production Waste:
This includes materials such as scrap metal, plastics, wood, and packaging materials generated during the manufacturing process.
Process Waste:
Waste is generated as a byproduct of industrial processes, such as sludge from wastewater treatment, ash from combustion processes, and slag from metal smelting.
Hazardous Waste:
Solid waste poses a threat to human health or the environment due to its toxic, corrosive, reactive, or flammable properties. Examples include solvents, heavy metals, and chemical residues.
2. Liquid Waste:
Wastewater:
Industrial activities often produce wastewater contaminated with pollutants such as chemicals, heavy metals, and organic compounds. Proper treatment is necessary to remove contaminants before discharge into the environment.
Cooling Water:
Water used for cooling purposes in industrial processes can become contaminated with pollutants and heat, requiring treatment before release or reuse.
Oil and Petroleum Products:
Spent oils, lubricants, and petroleum products are common liquid wastes generated by industrial activities. Improper disposal can lead to soil and water contamination.
3. Gaseous Waste:
Air Emissions:
Industrial processes release various pollutants into the atmosphere, including particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and greenhouse gases (GHGs). Effective air pollution control measures are necessary to reduce emissions and protect air quality.
Industrial Ventilation:
Gases generated during manufacturing processes, such as fumes, vapours, and exhaust gases, may require capture and treatment to minimize exposure risks to workers and the environment.
4. Hazardous Waste:
Chemical Waste:
Industrial facilities produce a wide range of hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing, cleaning, and processing operations. Proper handling, storage, and disposal are essential to prevent accidents and environmental contamination.
Toxic Waste:
Waste materials containing toxic substances, such as heavy metals, pesticides, and radioactive materials, pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Specialized treatment and disposal methods are required to manage toxic waste safely.
5. Electronic Waste (E-Waste):
Obsolete Electronics:
Discarded electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, televisions, and appliances, constitute electronic waste (e-waste). E-waste contains valuable metals and materials that can be recycled, but it also contains hazardous components such as lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants.
6. Construction and Demolition Waste:
Building Materials:
Construction and demolition activities generate waste materials such as concrete, wood, metals, and insulation materials. Recycling and proper disposal of construction waste can help conserve resources and reduce landfill space.
7. Agricultural Waste:
Crop Residues:
Agricultural activities produce waste materials such as crop residues, straw, and husks. These materials can be recycled for use as animal feed, compost, or biofuel.
Livestock Waste:
Animal farming operations generate organic waste such as manure, urine, and bedding materials. Proper management of livestock waste is essential to prevent water and soil contamination.
Here are a few effective strategies for industrial waste management and reduction.
1 – Dedicated Green Team
Industrial waste management is a complex process that involves several different stages, such as waste segregation, waste treatment, recycling, and composting. In the absence of a dedicated team, the onus of reducing and disposing of the waste may fall to one individual within the organisation.
This is one of the main reasons why companies struggle to implement an effective waste management system. It is, therefore, important for you to build a “green team” combining employees from different departments who will provide different perspectives to your waste management strategies.
Alternatively, you can speak to our team of experienced experts who can assist with site waste audits, and waste classification and identify ways where you can recycle more of your industrial waste, saving you time and reducing overall cost.
2 – Liquid Effluent Waste
Water supply and disposal costs are rising and increasingly subject to more stringent environmental controls and regulations. The more contaminated your effluent waste and the higher volume you discharge, the more costly it is to dispose of.
Every company is responsible for its waste, and there are strict regulations you must adhere to. However, water technology is quickly evolving and there may be a better way to recycle your wastewater and reduce the volume of effluent you are discharging to the sewer system.
A trade effluent audit by Oates Environmental would identify ways your business might be able to save money by treating and recycling wastewater and otherwise reducing the volume of effluent you are discharging to the sewer system. We can provide up to 100% recyclability via ultrafiltration treatment on a wide range of hazardous and non-hazardous liquid effluent wastes utilising our bespoke, and Europe’s biggest, ultrafiltration effluent treatment plant.
3 – Reduce WEEE
Last year, electronic waste shot up to a record 53.6 million metric tonnes globally and there is no sign of a decline. There are a few ways where you can reduce your organisation’s amount of WEEE. You can consider leasing future IT equipment and company phones so that they are returned to Apple and Samsung after use and repurposed. Buying refurbished or second-hand equipment may also be possible within your industry. Alternatively, you can ensure that all your electronic equipment is recycled properly by a company with the current credentials.
We can collect, sort and classify types of WEEE of recycling. From the smallest hand tool up to the largest commercial/industrial refrigerator or air conditioning units.
4 – Packaging
Between your raw materials and end products, your company may produce an abundance of waste in the form of packaging materials. It is difficult to eliminate product packaging, however, you can devise ways to minimise the environmental impact of your packaging.
Many companies are making a transition from plastics for packaging to more eco-friendly materials such as cardboard boxes. As for the packaging of your raw materials, you can try to reuse or recycle most of them.
Manage and reduce your industrial waste with Oates Environmental
As a total waste management company dedicated to providing zero-to-landfill solutions for your produced industrial wastes, Oates Environmental prides itself on offering a cost-effective and bespoke environmentally traceable cradle-to-grave service that is fully compliant and auditable at all stages ensuring your ‘Duty of Care’ obligations are taken care of at all times.
Manage and reduce your industrial waste – it’s good for you, good for the environment and your neighbours.