Industrial waste reduction: The process problem

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Environment; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1986.9928804· OSTI ID:5616142

Valentino, F W; Walmet, G E

Industrial waste problems, especially those involving hazardous waste, seem to be pervasive. The national media report newly discovered waste problems and sites with alarming regularity. Examples that immediately come to mind are Love Canal, New York; Times Beach, Missouri; and Seveso, Italy. Public perceptions of the industrial waste problem, reflecting the media's focus, appear to be that: large corporations are solely responsible for creating waste dumps, and the only role of government is to prevent illegal dumping and to regulate, fine, and require corporations to rectify the problem; all efforts should be directed toward preventing illegal dumping and treatment of the existing waste dumps; all industrial wastes can be classified as hazardous in nature. This general impression is both inaccurate and incomplete. All industrial waste is not hazardous (although most of it is not benign). All waste producers are not large corporations: nearly all industries produce some wastes. And, while existing waste sites must be effectively treated, additional efforts are needed at other points in the industrial waste cycle. Most people would agree both that waste dumping must be carefully regulated because of its negative impacts on the environment and that the less waste the better, even with carefully regulated disposal. Since nearly all industry now produces some waste and no one expects industry to shut down to resolve the waste problem, other strategies need to be available to deal with the problem at the front end. This paper discusses alternative strategies.

• OSTI ID: 5616142
• Journal Information: Environment; (USA), Vol. 28:7; ISSN 0013-9157
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
BIODEGRADATION
RECYCLING
NEW YORK
STATE GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS
CLEAN WATER ACT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
METHANE
PUBLIC OPINION
TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT
WASTE PROCESSING
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
FEDERAL REGION II
HYDROCARBONS
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION LAWS
PROCESSING
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
320305* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Industrial Waste Management