Liquid waste poses a significant threat to our environment, contaminating water and harming the ecosystem. Some liquid wastes can be recycled, reducing both disposal costs and the environmental impact.
Compliance with regulatory requirements is critical for businesses generating liquid waste. Failure to comply can result in fines and reputational damage. Find Out More About Us Here by reading the article below.
Sewage is liquid waste resulting from the natural excretion of animals and humans. This type of waste typically contains organic and inorganic components. It can also contain harmful chemicals and microorganisms. It is classified as either domestic or industrial sewage depending on its source. Sewage disposal practices must meet international standards to ensure proper treatment and protection of the environment.
Sewage disposal methods vary depending on the local laws and regulations. Some of the most common are sewer systems, septic tanks, and earth-pit privies. These methods can be expensive and labor-intensive, but they are the safest and most efficient way to dispose of liquid waste.
Besides sewage, other types of liquid waste can include domestic wastewater, fats, oils, and grease (FOG), used oil, commercial product sludges, and slurry. Some of these substances are toxic and may pose a risk to human health and the environment, while others can be recycled or used for agricultural purposes.
Liquid waste management is a complex task. Effective practices require community involvement and collaboration. This can be achieved through public awareness campaigns, school programs, and volunteer efforts.
Ideally, all liquid waste should be disposed of through a sewer system or septic tank. However, some materials are not suitable for this disposal method. Solid or viscous waste that can coat, clog, or interfere with the flow of sewer pipes is not allowed to be discharged into a sewer line. These items should be disposed of in the normal trash or collected and treated as hazardous waste. If you are unsure of the proper disposal of your liquid waste, contact a professional for assistance. The contaminated soil from improper waste disposal can seep into water bodies and pollute them. This can lead to contamination of fish, wildlife, and plants. In addition, it can cause illness and discomfort in people and pets.
Oils and Fats
Fats, oils and grease (FOGG) are an important part of the food we eat. They provide a concentrated source of energy and help keep food from sticking together during cooking. Fats are usually solid at room temperature, like butter or lard and are obtained from animal foods, while oils are liquid at room temperature and come from plant foods such as corn, peanuts, soya beans, vegetable seeds and olives.
It’s important to never pour FOGG down a drain. Fats, oils and grease do not mix with water and create a layer of buildup that restricts wastewater flow. This buildup can cause sewer blockages and sewage backups in homes and apartment buildings.
Liquid FOG dumped down a sink drain hardens to form a thick substance that builds up on the inside of pipes, congeals and traps other solid waste, creating a toxic sludge. This clogs drain lines and sewer lines, resulting in sewage backup into sinks, toilets and bathtubs. FOGG spills into the environment also harm wildlife, including birds and fish, by coating them in toxic substances. They can also deplete oxygen levels in water, causing hypoxia that kills aquatic life.
Commercial generators of FOG are responsible for properly disposing of this waste stream. Rather than throwing away oil and grease, they should recycle it. Lehman College, for example, collects used cooking oil from its cafeteria operations and takes it to a licensed recycler who turns it into biodiesel. This practice conserves resources, reduces landfill waste and generates revenue. People can also recycle cooking oil and other grease by soaking it in paper towels or cat litter, placing it in a leak-proof container or freezing it.
Chemicals
Chemicals are essential to the modern world, but they can be hazardous if not disposed of properly. Special handling and disposal of these corrosive, flammable and toxic chemicals helps prevent environmental damage and keeps toxins out of the food chain and water supply.
Some common examples of chemical waste include contaminated wipes and cleaning products used in healthcare settings, contaminated sharps (such as needles, syringes and lancets) used for medical purposes, and even ink cartridges and printer toners from industrial applications. Many pesticides, herbicides and paints also qualify as hazardous waste, as do used fluorescent light bulbs and mercury-containing batteries.
Liquid waste disposal companies handle and dispose of chemicals according to strict regulatory guidelines. They may use thermal treatment to destroy harmful components in the waste, or they may apply specialised chemical treatment methods like neutralisation and oxidation before disposing of it.
It is important to segregate and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals separately because mixing them together can cause pollution. Putting them in the same landfill or disposal site can lead to dangerous spills and leaks, which can contaminate soil and water and create long-term damage to natural resources.
North America continues to hold a dominant position in the liquid waste management market, with high industrial activity and stringent regulatory standards driving demand for advanced treatment technologies and sustainable practices. Growing awareness about environmental issues among consumers and businesses in the region also fuels growth in the market. However, a lack of funding and infrastructure challenges are slowing progress in the industry. Moreover, the complex legal landscape and varying standards in different regions can pose obstacles to the adoption of innovative solutions.
Paints and Inks
Painting, coating and printing industries generate liquid waste from cleaning and the manufacturing process. Some of the waste is paint, which contains solvents and heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium. These substances are hazardous due to their toxicity and ignitability. Other waste from the manufacturing process is wastewater treatment sludge and equipment cleaning sludges.
The disposal of these types of liquids is regulated. The regulations require that these liquids are treated on site or off-site before they are sent for disposal. Practicing pollution prevention in these industries can significantly reduce the amount of waste that is generated. This is achieved by utilising processes such as solvent recovery and pipe cleaning systems that optimise the use of solvent.
Keeping the quantity of waste that is produced to a minimum makes good business sense and contributes towards the protection of our environment. The regulations require that all liquid waste is recorded, including the type, amount and periodicity of disposal. This data is used to set goals for reduction of waste in these industries.
If you are an artist working with oil paints, try to minimise the amount of paint that is disposed of by spreading your paints on paper waste such as newspaper or scrap sheets and allowing them to dry before throwing them away. This will also help to keep your oil paints cleaner for longer.
Any rags that have been used to wipe up any oil paint or solvent should be wrung out and stored in a container until collected by EH&S. This will make them safer to dispose of, as wrung out rags are less flammable. The same goes for any paper towels that have been used with solvents. If you are unable to store these in a refuse bin, place them in a container with an airtight lid until they can be taken for disposal by EH&S.
Biohazardous Waste
Biological waste is any solid or liquid waste that is potentially contaminated with infectious material and/or rDNA/sNA and requires a higher level of containment than standard laboratory trash (e.g., tissue culture sludge). This waste must be decontaminated before disposal and ideally steam sterilized (autoclaved) on site. Some labs may also use chemical inactivation for certain liquid wastes. Biohazardous waste must be bagged and securely closed before transport to a centralized processing facility or the outside waste stream.
All regulated medical waste and biohazardous waste must be transported and stored in leakproof, autoclavable containers, or a designated biowaste container, with red or orange labels provided by Biological Safety. Containers should not be overfilled as this can increase the risk of contamination or a spill. PIs, LSOs, and laboratory personnel are responsible for identifying and properly labeling biohazardous waste for transport and disposal.
If your lab generates enough biohazardous waste to require offsite treatment, you can have it pick up regularly for pickup by a licensed medical waste disposal service company. This ensures that your waste is treated and disposed of according to strict state and federal guidelines.
Similarly, if you are working with animal tissues and carcasses that will need to be incinerated, you can have these collected by the local pathological waste management company. This helps to keep your waste disposal and incineration costs down by eliminating the need for costly onsite processing. Liquid waste and sewage must not be allowed to enter waterways, as it can lead to contamination of ecosystems, destruction of vegetation, and the spread of disease. Using an effective wastewater and sewage disposal system minimizes this environmental impact and ensures that all regulatory requirements are met.