Regional hazardous waste management systems

Abstract

In the early 1980s it was recognised that poor management of hazardous wastes from industry was leading to significant environmental degradation, particularly contamination of unconfined aquifers. In Europe, North America and then in Australia,it was recognised that separate systems were required to properly manage hazardous waste generation, transport, treatment and disposal. This MEngSc thesis, after reviewing development in Australia, proposes a comprehensive system for the management of hazardous waste in an industrial region (such as a State, or industrial region such as the Hunter Valley in NSW). This system is outlined in Part A of the report. Important components of the system described in this part include guiding principles, generation and classification, manifest procedures, waste minimisation, treatment, and treatment residue management. The importance of the manifest system, and the database of information compiled by it, in linking all components of the system together is emphasised. Part B of the report examines in detail three aspects of the regional system which are of fundamental importance to the successful implementation of the whole system, namely; guiding principles (policy), classification systems, and hazardous waste databases. The importance of designing an unambiguous classification system so that the database based on it will be reliable is highlighted. The use of the database in assisting in the implementation, control and ongoing development of the hazardous waste system is discussed. Part C of the report illustrates the implementation of the system described in parts A and B by way of a case study, based on a review and recommendations for upgrading of the hazardous waste management system in South Australia.