Chapter 6.7 Transitional Technologies

Notes on this chapter

This chapter is different from the other parts of Section 6 in that it is not primarily technical in its orientation. Rather, the focus is on how to begin the ‘journey' of developing an integrated hazardous waste management system in a developing economy; and in particular, in how to get from where the country is now (usually uncontrolled dumping to air, water and land) to the eventual long term solution (an integrated system of pollution prevention/waste minimisation and relatively sophisticated facilities for hazardous waste treatment and disposal). The chapter focuses attention on the need to take short term actions to bring the major proportion of hazardous waste generated within a country under better control, using technologies which may be regarded as either purely short term or transitional in nature, or relatively low cost technologies which may also form part of the longer term solution.

The chapter is arranged in 2 parts:

 The first part addresses the question of How to begin (or continue) the journey towards developing a hazardous waste management system? This focuses on the barriers and constraints to the development of longer term facilities for hazardous waste treatment and disposal, and discusses both the advantages and disadvantages of so called transitional technologies.

 The second part introduces some of the transitional technologies which may be appropriate. These are divided into those which should be regarded as short term in nature, as part of the transitional phase prior to the development of longer term arrangements; and other, relatively simple and low cost technologies, which may also form part of the longer term solution.

It is important to emphasise at the outset that many of the so called transitional technologies presented here are either similar, or even identical, to the technologies introduced in the previous parts of Section 6. The purpose of this chapter is thus more management and planning in orientation, rather than technical. In other words, the purpose is to introduce the concept of transitional technologies and to provide some ideas for further investigation. It is not to present technical details of individual technologies, still less a ‘recipe book' which can be used as a basis for implementation. However, further references, often to case studies, are provided where available.

List of slides

Title slide Slide 2 Evolution of a hazardous waste management system Slide 3 How to begin developing a hazardous waste management waste system? Slide 4 How easy will the journey be for a developing economy? Slide 5 The implementation conundrum

TRP Chapter 6.7 1 Slide 6 Taking the first steps Slide 7 Useful first steps Slide 8 Transitional technologies used by industrialised countries 1 Slide 9 Transitional technologies used by industrialised countries 2 Slide 10 Advantages of transitional technologies Slide 11 Overcoming the disadvantages of transitional technologies Slide 12 Examples of transitional technologies 1 short term measures Slide 13 Examples of transitional technologies 2 low cost longer term measures Slide 14 Examples of transitional technologies 3 medium term measures Slide 15 Early measures for waste minimisation Slide 16 Export (to a developed country) Slide 17 Encapsulation Slide 18 Solar evaporation Slide 19 Co-combustion in existing industrial furnaces Slide 20 Co-disposal Slide 21 Cement-based solidification Slide 22 Cement-based solidification - case studies Slide 23 Simple physico-chemical treatment Slide 24 Simple physico-chemical treatment – case study Slide 25 Co-combustion in cement kilns Slide 26 How to move from transitional solutions to long term ones Slide 27 Summary

Background notes

Developing a hazardous waste management system

1 Most countries with hazardous waste management systems in place took many years to establish them, and did so in a staged process. There are few instant solutions. Most have developed their hazardous waste management systems in a number of steps over a period of ten years or more. Even if a developing economy moves directly to the development of state-of-the-art treatment and disposal facilities, in practice the process is likely to take perhaps eight to 15 years.

2 The basic premise of this chapter is that it is better to do something now than to wait for the perfect solution.

3 The concept of transitional technologies is essentially as a stepping stone, a step on the way to the evolution of a state of the art system for waste minimisation, recycling treatment and disposal. By making available facilities to allow current dumping practises to be phased out, there are many advantages in terms of identifying waste generators, raising awareness and improving information for the planning of the future long-term systems. By bringing wastes out into the open and by giving both waste generators and control authority staff experience in waste management, the eventual introduction of expensive, modern treatment and disposal facilities is made much easier. But transitional technologies are just that, and should not be allowed to become permanent.

TRP Chapter 6.7 2 Available and appropriate technologies

4 A variety of transitional technologies were used by the industrialised countries of western Europe, North America and Japan, over the last 25 years as they gradually developed their current hazardous waste management systems. Some of these have now been banned under international conventions, including incineration at sea and the dumping of industrial wastes at sea. Some such as export to countries with modern facilities, and controlled co-disposal of industrial wastes in municipal solid waste landfill sites, are still available, but under legislative pressure in industrialised countries. The fact that some countries no longer require such technology does not reduce its value to those countries that are still in the process of developing their systems. Perhaps the most important transitional technology is the upgraded municipal landfill.

5 The next group of technologies to be considered by any country can be described as early measures for waste avoidance and waste minimisation. Experience has shown that such measures can both save money for industry and substantially reduce the quantities for which expensive treatment facilities will need to be provided in the long term. Developing economies should also exploit widespread recycling opportunities during the transitional phase, and ensure that minimisation and recycling form an integral part of the long term strategy.

6 The next group of transitional technologies are those which are strictly short term in nature. These include export to approved overseas facilities, which is an expensive option for some of the most difficult wastes; encapsulation or concrete entombment of non-treatable toxic wastes, again a limited option; and solar evaporation, of aqueous sludges or liquids or of volatile organic solvents in remote desert areas.

7 Another group of technologies are transitional, but arguably may have a longer time span. Examples include co-combustion of waste oils in existing industrial furnaces, co- disposal of selected industrial and hazardous waste with domestic wastes in properly controlled municipal solid waste landfill sites; and simple cement waste solidification using clay cells at a landfill site.

8 The last group of technologies are relatively low cost and low technology solutions which could form part of a longer term waste management system. Examples include simple chemical treatment facilities, and the blending of organic wastes as fuel for use in local industry, the most common example being a cement kiln.

Advantages and disadvantages of transitional technologies

9 With the use of transitional technologies is important in developing an integrated hazardous waste management system. It is important to bring wastes out into the open and to get people used to the idea of proper waste management control. The use of transitional technologies allows the worst public health and environmental hazards of

TRP Chapter 6.7 3 current uncontrolled dumping practises to be phased out quickly, and also make future investment in long term treatment and disposal facilities less risky.

10 It is, however, important to realise that transitional technologies are of a short-term nature and that they should not be allowed to become longer term through inertia. They should also only be used as part of an overall strategy, and not introduced on an ad hoc basis.

11 Transitional technologies can be beneficial when an industrialising country is developing its internal treatment and disposal capacity for its own wastes. While some regional co-operation between industrialising countries may be advantageous and acceptable in the short term, it is absolute that waste should not be imported from developed countries which have already progressed to higher standards.

Sources of further information

Dean, RB & Wilson, DC (Editors) (1990) Adapting hazardous waste management to the needs of developing countries, Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2

De Bruin, T (1990) Co-disposal and encapsulation Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2 – describes experience in Cape Town

LaGrega, MD; Buckingham, PL; Evans, JC & ERM Group (1994) Hazardous Waste Management McGraw Hill, New York ISBN 0-07-019552-8

Lohwongwatana, B; Soponkanaporn, T & Sophonsridsuk, A Industrial hazardous waste treatment facilities in Thailand Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2

Nash, JM; Cheung, B; Fung, CH; Lei PK, Mak, PW; Rootham, RC; Stokoe, MJ & Tong, R (1991) Control and treatment of hazardous (chemical) waste in Hong Kong Waste Management & Research Vol 9 No 3

Ravishankar, R (1990) Opportunities and constraints for cement kiln incineration in Malaysia, Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2

Razzell, WE (1990) Chemical fixation, solidification of hazardous waste, Waste Management & Research, Vol 8 No 2 - Brisbane, Australia

Soponkanaporn, T & Sophonsridsuk, A (1990) Commissioning and operating an inorganic waste treatment facility in Bangkok Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2

Tolentino, AS; Brabante, AT & David, MV (1990) Toxic chemicals and hazardous waste management in the Philippines Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2

TRP Chapter 6.7 4 Wilson D C & Balkau F (1990) Adapting Hazardous Waste Management to the Needs of Developing Countries - An Overview and Guide to Action Waste Management & Research Vol 8 No 2

TRP Chapter 6.7 5