WASTE MANAGEMENT (BETCK105F/205F)

WASTE MANAGEMENT
(BETCK105F/205F)

MODULE 5:
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
AND TREATMENT

1 Mrs. Chindu Mohan, Department of Civil Engg.

WASTE MANAGEMENT (BETCK105F/205F)

MODULE 5

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

HAZARDOUS WASTE: IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION

Hazardous wastes refer to wastes that may, or tend to, cause adverse health effects on the ecosystem
and human beings. These wastes pose present or potential risks to human health or living organisms,
due to the fact that they:
i. are non-degradable
ii. are biologically magnified- they slowly gets increased in its concentration
iii. are highly toxic and even lethal at very low concentrations.

Identification
Hazardous waste materials can be identified by
i. The list provided by government agencies declaring that substance as hazardous.
ii. Checking the following characteristics such as ignitibility, corrosivity, reactivity and
toxicity of the substance.

Listed hazardous wastes (priority chemicals)

Any waste that fits the definition of a listed waste is considered a hazardous waste. Four separate lists
cover wastes from generic industrial processes, specific industrial sectors, unused pure chemical
products and formulations that are toxic,
i. F-list: The F-list contains hazardous wastes from non-specific sources, that is, various
industrial processes that may have generated the waste. The list consists of solvents
commonly used in degreasing, metal treatment baths and sludges, wastewaters from
metal plating operations and dioxin containing chemicals or their precursors.
Examples of solvents that are F-listed hazardous wastes, along with their code numbers,
include benzene (F005), carbon tetrachloride (F001), cresylic acid (F004), methyl ethyl
ketone (F005), methylene chloride (F001), 1,1,1, trichloroethane (F001), toluene (F005)
etc.
ii. K-list: The K-list contains hazardous wastes generated by specific industrial processes.
Examples of industries, which generate K-listed wastes include wood preservation,
pigment production, chemical production, petroleum refining, iron and steel
production, explosive manufacturing and pesticide production.
iii. P and U lists: The P and U lists contain discarded commercial chemical products, off-
specification chemicals, container residues and residues from the spillage of materials.
These two lists include commercial pure grades of the chemical, any technical grades of

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the chemical that are produced or marketed, and all formulations in which the chemical is
the sole active ingredient. An example of a P or U listed hazardous waste is a pesticide,
which is not used during its shelf-life and requires to be disposed in bulk.

Characteristics of Hazardous Wastes

For a waste to be deemed a characteristic hazardous waste, it must significantly contribute to, an
increased mortality or serious illness, or pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment,
when mismanaged. In other words, if the wastes generated at a facility are not listed in the F, K, P, or
U lists, the final step to determine whether a waste is hazardous is to evaluate it against the following
4 hazardous characteristics:
(i) Ignitability (EPA Waste Identification Number D001): A waste is an ignitable hazardous
waste, if it has a flash point of less than 60 0C; readily catches fire and burns so vigorously
as to create a hazard. Naphtha, lacquer thinner, epoxy resins, adhesives and oil-based
paints are all examples of ignitable hazardous wastes.
(ii) Corrosivity (EPA Waste Identification Number D002): A liquid waste which has a pH of
less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5 is considered to be a corrosive
hazardous waste. Examples are Sodium hydroxide, Hydrochloric acid etc.
(iii) Reactivity (EPA Waste Identification Number D003): A material is considered a reactive
hazardous waste, if it is unstable, reacts violently with water, generates toxic gases when
exposed to water or corrosive materials, or if it is capable of detonation or explosion when
exposed to heat or a flame. Examples of reactive wastes would be waste gunpowder,
sodium metal or wastes containing cyanides or sulphides.
(iv) Toxicity (EPA Waste Identification Number D004): Toxic waste is harmful when it is
ingested or absorbed and can pollute groundwater. To determine if a waste is a toxic
hazardous waste, a representative sample of the material must be subjected to a test
conducted in a certified laboratory. The toxic characteristic identifies wastes that are likely
to leach dangerous concentrations of toxic chemicals into ground water. Eg:- Batteries for
electronics, cell phones, and computers, Treated wood waste containing
pentachlorophenol, Painting waste that contains certain solvents

Classification
Hazardous wastes are grouped in the following five general categories:
(i) Radioactive substance: Substances that emit ionizing radiation are radioactive. Such
substances are hazardous because prolonged exposure to radiation often results in damage
to living organisms. Radioactive substances are of special concern because they persist for
a long period. The period in which radiation occurs is commonly measured and expressed
as half-life, i.e., the time required for the radioactivity of a given amount of the substance

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to decay to half its initial value. For example, uranium compounds have half-lives that
range from 72 years for U232 to 23,420,000 years for U236.
(ii) Chemicals: Most hazardous chemical wastes can be classified into four groups: synthetic
organics, inorganic metals, salts, acids and bases, and flammables and explosives. Some of
the chemicals are hazardous because they are highly toxic to most life forms. When such
hazardous compounds are present in a waste stream at levels equal to, or greater than, their
threshold levels, the entire waste stream is identified as hazardous.
(iii) Biomedical wastes: The principal sources of hazardous biological wastes are hospitals and
biological research facilities. The ability to infect other living organisms and the ability to
produce toxins are the most significant characteristics of hazardous biological wastes. This
group mainly includes malignant tissues discarded during surgical procedures and
contaminated materials, such as hypodermic needles, bandages and outdated drugs.
(iv) Flammable wastes: Most flammable wastes are also identified as hazardous chemical
wastes. These wastes may be liquid, gaseous or solid, but most often they are liquids.
Typical examples include organic solvents, oils, plasticizers and organic sludges.
(v) Explosives: Explosive hazardous wastes are mainly ordnance (artillery) materials, i.e., the
wastes resulting from ordnance manufacturing and some industrial gases. Similar to
flammables, these wastes also have a high potential for hazard in storage, collection and
disposal, and therefore, they should be considered separately in addition to being listed as
hazardous chemicals. These wastes may exist in solid, liquid or gaseous form.
(vi) Household hazardous wastes: Household wastes such as cleaning chemicals, batteries,
nail polish etc. Especially batteries contain mercury which are alkaline which is dangerous
enough to kill people. Generic household hazardous material includes non-chlorinated
organic, chlorinated organic, pesticides, latex paint, oil-based paints, waste oil, automobile
battery and household battery.

HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

1. Generation
• As a first step in developing a community inventory, potential sources of hazardous waste are
to be identified.
• The total annual quantity of hazardous waste at any given source in a community must be
established through data inventory completed during onsite visits.
• In addition to the sources listed, the spillage of containerized hazardous waste must also be
considered an important source.
2. Storage and collection
• When large quantities are generated, special facilities are used that have sufficient capacity to
hold wastes accumulated over a period of several days.

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• When only a small amount is generated, the waste can be containerized, and limited quantity
may be stored.

• Containers and facilities used in hazardous waste storage and handling are selected on the basis
of waste characteristics. For example, corrosive acids or caustic solutions are stored in fiber-
glass or glass-lined containers to prevent deterioration of metals in the container. Great care
must also be exercised to avoid storing incompatible wastes in the same container or locations.
• The waste generator, or a specialized hauler, generally collects the hazardous waste for
delivery to a treatment or disposal site.
• The stored containers are transported unopened to the treatment and disposal facility. To avoid
accidents and the possible loss of life, two collectors should be assigned when hazardous
wastes are to be collected
3. Transfer and transport
• The facilities of a hazardous waste transfer station are quite different from solid waste transfer
station.
• Liquid hazardous wastes are generally pumped from collection vehicles and sludge or solids
are reloaded without removal from the collection containers for transport to processing and
disposal facilities.
4. Processing
• Processing of hazardous waste is done for purposes of recovering useful materials and
preparing the wastes for disposal.
• Processing can be accomplished on-site or off-site.
• The treatment of hazardous waste can be accomplished by physical, chemical, thermal or
biological means.

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5. Disposal
• Regardless of their form (i.e., solid, liquid, or gas), most hazardous waste is disposed of either
near the surface or by deep burial.
• Although, controlled landfill methods have been proved adequate for disposing of municipal
solid waste and limited amounts of hazardous waste, they are not suitable enough for the
disposal of a large quantity of hazardous waste, due to the following reasons:
▪ possible percolation of toxic liquid waste to the ground water;
▪ dissolution of solids followed by leaching and percolation to the ground water;
▪ dissolution of solid hazardous wastes by acid leachate from solid waste, followed by
leaching and percolation to the ground water;
▪ potential for undesirable reactions in the landfill that may lead to the development of
explosive or toxic gases
▪ volatilization of hazardous waste leading to the release of toxic or explosive vapours to
the atmosphere;
▪ corrosion of containers with hazardous wastes.
• Liquid wastes are usually stored in a tank near the site and can be introduced into the landfill
by means of trenches or lagoons, injection or irrigation.
• Sludges are also placed in trenches. During disposal of lightweight wastes, the disposal area
must be kept wet to prevent dust emissions.
• While designing a landfill site for hazardous waste, provision should be made to prevent any
leachate escaping from landfill site. This requires a clay liner, and in some cases, both clay and
impermeable membrane liners are used. A layer of limestone is placed at the bottom of the
landfill to neutralize the pH of leachate. A final soil cover of 25 cm or more should be placed
over the liner. The completed site should be monitored continuously, both visually and with
sample wells.

HAZARDOUS WASTE TREATMENT

1. Physical and chemical treatment
Physical and chemical treatments are an essential part of most hazardous waste treatment operations,
and the treatments include the following
i. Filtration and separation: Filtration is a method for separating solid particles from a
liquid using a porous medium. The driving force in filtration is a pressure gradient, caused
by gravity, centrifugal force, vacuum, or pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Two
types of filtrations are
a) Clarification, in which suspended solid particles less than 100 ppm (parts per million)
concentration are removed from an aqueous stream. The primary aim is to produce a
clear aqueous effluent, which can either be discharged directly, or further processed.
The suspended solids are collected separately.

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b) Dewatering of slurries of typically 1% to 30 % solids by weight. Here, the aim is to

concentrate the solids into a solid form for disposal or further treatment. This is usually
accomplished by cake filtration. The slurry can be dewatered by cake filtration and the
effluent from the settling step can be filtered by depth filtration prior to discharge.
ii. Chemical precipitation: This is a process by which the soluble substance is converted to an
insoluble form either by a chemical reaction or by change in the composition of the solvent to
diminish the solubility of the substance in it. Settling and filtration can then remove the
precipitated solids. This includes wastes containing arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium,
copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium etc.
iii. Chemical oxidation and reduction (redox): In these reactions, the oxidation state of one
reactant is raised, while that of the other reactant is lowered. This treatment is used for metal-
bearing wastes, sulphides, cyanides and chromium and in the treatment of many organic wastes
such as phenols, pesticides and Sulphur containing compounds. Some of the commonly used
oxidizing agents are sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, calcium hypochlorite,
potassium permanganate and ozone. Some of the compounds used as reducing agents are
Sulphur dioxide, sodium borohydride, etc.
iv. Solidification and stabilization: Solidification and stabilization are treatment processes
designed to improve waste handling and physical characteristics. Solidification refers to a
process in which materials are added to the waste to produce a solid. It may or may not involve
a chemical bonding between the toxic contaminant and the additive. Stabilization refers to a
process by which a waste is converted to a more chemically stable form. E.g.:- solidifiers like
limestone or fly ash can be used
v. Evaporation: Evaporation is defined as the conversion of a liquid from a solution or slurry
into vapor. All evaporation systems require the transfer of sufficient heat from a heating
medium to the process fluid to vaporize the volatile solvent. Evaporation is commonly used as
a pre-treatment method to decrease quantities of material for final treatment.
vi. Ozonation: Ozone is a relatively unstable gas consisting of three oxygen atoms per molecule
(O3) and is one of the strongest oxidizing agents known. Ozone and UV radiations have been
used to detoxify industrial organic wastes, containing aromatic and aliphatic polychlorinated
compounds, ketones and alcohols.
2. Thermal treatment
The two main thermal treatments used with regard to hazardous wastes are:
i. Incineration: Incineration can be regarded as either a pre-treatment of hazardous waste,
prior to final disposal or as a means of using waste for recovering energy. It includes both
the burning of mixed solid waste or burning of selected parts of the waste stream as a fuel.
ii. Pyrolysis: This is defined as the chemical decomposition or change brought about by
heating in the absence of oxygen. This is a thermal process for transformation of solid and
liquid carbonaceous materials into gaseous components and the solid residue containing

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fixed carbon and ash. The application of pyrolysis to hazardous waste treatment leads to a
two-step process for disposal.
In the first step, wastes are heated separating the volatile contents (e.g., combustible gases,
water vapor, etc.) from non-volatile char and ash. In the second step volatile components
are burned under proper conditions to assure incineration of all hazardous components.

3. Biological treatment
Some of the techniques used for biological treatment of hazardous waste are
i. Land treatment: This is a waste treatment and disposal process, where a waste is mixed
with or incorporated into the surface soil and is degraded, transformed or immobilized
through proper management.
ii. Enzymatic systems: Enzymes are complex proteins composed of amino acids, are linked
together via peptide bonds. Enzymes capable of transforming hazardous waste chemicals
to non-toxic products and convert pesticides into less toxic and persistent products. The
factors of moisture, temperature, aeration, soil structure, organic matter content, seasonal
variation and the availability of soil nutrients influence the presence and abundance of
enzymes.
iii. Composting: The microbiology of hazardous wastes differs from that of composting in
the use of inoculums. The factors important in composting of hazardous wastes are those
that govern all biological reactions.
iv. Aerobic and anaerobic treatment: Hazardous materials are present in low to high
concentration in wastewaters, leachate and soil. These wastes are characterized by high
organic content (e.g., up to 40,000 mg/l total organic carbon), low and high pH (2 to 12),
elevated salt levels (sometimes, over 5%), and presence of heavy metals and hazardous
organics. Hazardous wastes can be treated using either aerobic or anaerobic treatment
methods. In aerobic treatment, under proper conditions, microorganisms grow. Anaerobic
treatment is a sequential biologically destructive process in which hydrocarbons are
converted, in the absence of free oxygen, from complex to simpler molecules, and
ultimately to carbon dioxide and methane.

POLLUTION PREVENTION AND WASTE MINIMISATION

Pollution prevention is the use of materials, processes, or practices that reduce or eliminate the
generation of pollutants or wastes at the source. It includes practices that reduce the use of hazardous
and non-hazardous materials, energy, water or other resources as well as those that protect natural
resources through conservation or more efficient use. Pollution prevention is the maximum feasible
reduction of all wastes generated at production sites. It involves the judicious use of resources through
source reduction, energy efficiency, reuse of input materials and reduces water consumption.

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Waste minimization means the feasible reduction of hazardous waste that is generated prior to
treatment, storage and disposal. Practices that are considered in waste minimization include recycling,
source separation, product substitution, manufacturing process changes and the use of less toxic raw
materials. Pollution prevention and waste minimization provides us with an opportunity to be
environmentally responsible. While pollution prevention reduces waste at its source, waste
minimization, including recycling and other methods, reduces the amount of waste.

Factors that can Contribute to Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization.

(i) Management support and employee participation: If a waste management program is
practiced in an organization, the management should support it and all the employees must
participate in it wholeheartedly.
A clear commitment by management for waste minimization and pollution prevention is
essential to earn the dedication of all employees. For this to happen, a formal policy
statement must be drafted and adopted.
(ii) Training: As with any activity, it is important for management to train employees so that
they will have an understanding of what is expected of them and why they are being asked
to change the way things are done.
Employees must be provided with formal and on-the-job training to increase awareness of
operating practices that reduce both solid and hazardous waste generation.
(iii) Waste audits: A programme of waste audits at the departmental level will provide a
systematic and periodic survey of the industries designed to identify areas of potential
waste reduction. The audit programme includes the identification of hazardous wastes and
their source minimization and pollution prevention options and evaluation of their results.
(iv) Good operating practices: the company should follow good practices to find and change
sources of solid waste. These practices involve the procedural or organizational aspects of
industry, research or teaching activities and, in some areas, changes in operating practices,
in order to reduce the amount of waste generated.
(v) Material substitution practices: The purpose of these practices is to find substitute
materials, which are less hazardous than those currently utilized and which result in the
generation of waste in smaller quantities and/or of less toxicity.
(vi) Technological modification practices: These practices should be oriented towards
process and equipment modifications to reduce waste generation.
(vii) Recycling options: These options are characterized as use/reuse and resource recovery
techniques. Use and reuse practices involve the return of a waste material either to the
originating process or to another process as a substitute for an input material.
(viii) Surplus chemical waste exchange options: A waste product of one department in the
organization can be a source for another department. If it is properly planned and executed,
both the departments can mutually solve their problems.

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HAZARDOUS WASTES MANAGEMENT IN INDIA

• As industrialization proceeds, the management of hazardous wastes is increasingly becoming
a serious problem in India.
• The Indian chemical industry, which accounts for about 13% of the total industrial production
is one of the major generators of toxic and hazardous wastes.
• There are 13,011 industrial units located in 340 districts, out of which 11,038 units have been
granted authorization for multiple disposal practices encompassing incineration, storage land
disposal and other disposal options.
• The hazardous waste generated in the country per annum currently is estimated to be around 8
million tonnes out of which 70% is being generated by five states, namely Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Only three States have developed common TSDF (Treatment, Storage, Disposal Facility),
which are essential component of proper hazardous waste management activity for ultimate
disposal of the hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound manner.
• These 10 facilities are currently operational only in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• There are still problems of hazardous waste not being managed in sound environmental
conditions, improper dumping and lack of proper treatment and disposal facilities.
• India is the first country that has made provisions for the protection and improvement of
environment in its Constitution.
• As per the law, one of the Fundamental Duties of every citizen of India is to protect and
improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have
compassion for living creatures.
• India has enacted the following laws, regulations and standards governing the country's
environmental protection:
(i) The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended in 1988.
(ii) Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1975.
(iii) The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, as amended by Amendment
Act, 1991.
(iv) The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978.
(v) The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1984, as amended by Amendment Act,
1987.
(vi) The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules 1982 and 1983.
(vii) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
(viii) Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 as amended in 2000.
(ix) Management, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989. Etc…
• According to State Pollution Control Board, the occupier, transporter and operator of a facility
shall be liable for damages caused to the environment resulting due to improper disposal of
hazardous waste.

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• The occupier and operator of a facility shall also be liable to reinstate or restore damaged or
destroyed elements of the environment.
• The occupier and operator of a facility shall be liable to pay a fine as levied by the SPCB with
the approval of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for any violation of the provisions
under these rules.

THE E-WASTE RECYCLING PROCESS

1. Step One — Collection
The first stage in the recycling process for e-waste is the collection of electronic products through
recycling bins, collection locations, take-back programs, or on-demand collection services. The mixed
e-waste is then taken to specialized electronics recyclers.
Best practice dictates that e-waste should be separated by type at this stage of the process, which is
why many collection sites will have different bins or boxes for different items. This is especially
important for e-waste containing batteries, which require special treatment.
2. Step Two — Storage
It should be safely stored in the facility.
3. Step Three — Manual Sorting, Dismantling, Shredding
E-waste then goes through the initial stage of manual sorting, where various items (such as batteries
and bulbs) are removed for their own processing. This is the stage at which some items may also be
manually dismantled for components, reuse, or the recovery of valuable materials.
E-waste is then shredded into small pieces allowing for accurate sorting of materials, a key part of the
process. Most electronics are a mix of materials, and breaking items down into pieces that measure
just a few centimeters means they can be separated mechanically.
4. Step Four — Mechanical Separation
The mechanical separation of the different materials actually consists of several processes one after
the other. The two key steps are magnetic separation and water separation.
a) Magnetic Separation
- The shredded e-waste is passed under a giant magnet, which is able to pull ferrous metals such
as iron and steel from the mix of waste.
b) Water Separation
- With a solid waste stream that now consists mainly of plastic and glass, water is used to
separate the materials, further purifying for the separation of different plastics as well as hand-
sorting obvious contaminants.
5. Step Five: Recovery
The materials, now separated, are prepared for sale and reuse. For some materials, such as plastic or
steel, this means joining another recycling stream. Others may be processed onsite and sold directly
alongside usable components separated in the early stages.

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Important questions from Module 5 (Repeatedly Asked in VTU exams)

1. Define hazardous waste. What are the methods of identification of hazardous waste.
OR
Explain the characteristics of hazardous waste.
2. With the help of examples, explain the classification of hazardous waste.
OR
Describe the five general categories of Hazardous wastes
OR
Enumerate the process adopted for identification of hazardous waste based on its
characteristics.
OR
Describe the five general categories of hazardous wastes.
3. Explain physical and chemical treatment of hazardous waste
OR
Discuss the various chemical methods of treatment of hazardous wastes.
4. Discuss the pollution prevention and waste minimization
OR
Write short notes on pollution prevention and waste minimization.
OR
State the factors that can Contribute to Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization.
OR
Apply the concept of pollution prevention and waste minimization for any industry,
5. Explain the hazardous waste management in India
OR
Elaborate the rules for management of hazardous wastes.
6. Describe the e-waste recycling process
OR
Explain the importance and advantages of E-waste recycling along with the examples.
OR
Write a detailed note on e-waste recycling in India with core studies on formal and informal
sectors of recycling.

12 Mrs. Chindu Mohan, Department of Civil Engg.