If burning and incineration is used, the equipment selected ought to be designed and sized to accommodate the waste produced, minimize fire hazard and result in the complete combustion of the waste.
The generator of a waste is responsible for its safe management from cradle-to-grave. Using raw materials efficiently and reducing the amount of waste created is the most significant step in waste management planning. By way of example, through improved waste management planning, it may be possible to reduce or eliminate the need to burn or incinerate waste altogether. Undertaking a waste audit can help to identify the type and amount of waste being created, the prices of current management options and analyze opportunities for better managing the waste. This information will also enable the generator to implement a waste management regime that is tailored to its own unique needs, location and conditions.
Even with improved waste reduction measures in place there’ll be waste generated. Waste by its nature is usually a combination of different unwanted materials. The segregation and diversion of different types of waste is an effective means to decrease the quantity of waste requiring costly handling, storage, treatment and disposal. Segregation also enables the reuse of certain types of waste for another purpose. Reuse activities could be undertaken either on-site or off-site.
Treatment and disposal is the last step in effective waste management and should be undertaken only after all other practical reduction and reuse options have been examined. A wide variety of treatment and disposal options exist and each must be examined before deciding on a last method, regardless of whether waste is to be treated and disposed of on-site or off-site. If burning and incineration is the technique of choice, equipment must be designed and sized accordingly to accommodate the type and amount of waste being produced. As described in the next section, open burning is capable of safely destroying a limited number of types of waste. While incinerators are capable of safely destroying a wider range of waste, many types of waste must nevertheless be diverted. As a result of this, on-site segregation remains a critical component of any waste management program.
Overall, the following principles should be used to direct responsible solid waste management planning:
Know your waste by conducting a waste audit.
