Classification of production and consumption waste. Classification of waste by hazard class

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

There is no general classification of consumption and production waste. Therefore, for convenience, the basic principles of such a division are often used.

Principles of division of waste into types

So, the structure of the main principles is represented by the following elements:

• by sources of education (industry);
• by state of aggregation;
• by production cycles;
• by directions of use.

Let's take a closer look at each of them.

By industry

This classification of waste in practice is the most widespread. It is built on a branch principle. The largest share is occupied by the classification of production waste, among which are: waste from non-ferrous or ferrous metallurgy, coal, chemical and woodworking industries.

According to aggregate state

This classification of waste allows them to be more accurately identified as liquid, solid or gaseous. Such a division is important when choosing a technology for their storage,further processing or destruction.

Thus, gaseous waste should be stored in specialized tanks, liquid waste in sealed containers, and solid waste in containers, sites or landfills.

To determine the technology of their processing, the classification of waste by class, represented by the degree of explosiveness and combustibility, should be used. We must not forget about their toxicity.

By production cycles

Sometimes the classification of production waste is used, which is organized by industry.

This allows them to be detailed by the technological stages of manufacturing the product to identify operations during which any by-products may be formed.

An example is the chemical industry, in which the synthesis of organic substances can produce bulk residues that are not provided for by the production process (during distillation or rectification).

The above classification of waste by class is aimed at considering the issue of their use as recyclable materials. Therefore, such a ranking reflects first of all quantitative indicators, and only then - qualitative ones.

Physical and chemical properties of garbage

Classification of waste by physical and chemical properties is important when assessing their impact on the environment. This, of course, applies to hazardous and toxic ingredients.

The World He alth Organization has developed a classification of waste by hazard class, adopted by the UN in the form of a program for environmental protection. It includes a list of hazardous and toxic components that are released during the production process. The same list includes the following substances: arsenic, pharmaceuticals, various halogenated organic compounds and, of course, mercury.

As a characteristic of the toxicity of substances, the lethal dose coefficient is taken, at the use of which a lethal outcome occurred in half of the experimental animals.

Separation of garbage by danger

The hazard classification of waste is based on the concentration of toxic substances they contain. The synergistic effect of several components is also taken into account.

In recent years, in European countries, the classification of waste by hazard class is based on their environmental friendliness. At the same time, this approach is imperfect, since the process of assessing them as raw materials for further consumption in the production sector is difficult.

Use of waste as a raw material base for production

One of the main tasks of any commercial and industrial activity is to achieve savings in energy and raw materials. Therefore, in modern economic conditions, there is a convergence of interests of potential consumers and producers who own modern production facilities and technologies for using waste as raw materials.

Unlike primary raw materials, waste cannot be pre-targeted for a specific area of their use. So, the same waste is used in various production areas. Therefore, for a reasonable classification on this basis, it is advisable to know some of their distinctive features. Thus, all waste can be grouped into three main groups:

1. Have such unfavorable characteristics as the lack of uniformity of composition and purity. The reasons for this are the different degree of wear, pollution, climatic factors. Despite the fact that these characteristics are stochastic in nature, they are used to determine waste processing technologies and the quality of the products obtained, taking into account a complex of economic and environmental problems.
2. Solid household waste, the classification of which is based on the possibility of using it as a secondary raw material. In other words, a certain set of characteristics is set that can be measured and included in the technical specifications, as well as regulatory and technical documents responsible for the optimal directions for waste processing.
3. Since primary raw materials tend to turn into waste during the production process, along with the loss or deterioration of some consumer qualities, updated properties are also acquired that were uncharacteristic of the analogue at the initial stage.

Therefore, the description of waste should be based on the definition for each individual type of characteristics to be measured and the effective direction of its use.

Classificationwaste according to specifications

Based on the division of substances that are released during the production process, they can be grouped into two main groups:

• properties that are important for a particular material, their measurement is mandatory when determining traditional ways of use;
• newly acquired properties, measuring them is essential when identifying new and unconventional ways to use recyclables.

Determination of the properties of the first group is carried out by studying the relevant scientific literature and regulatory and technical documentation.

For wastes with newly acquired properties, methods are required that are unified as methods for measuring their properties, as well as identifying other necessary properties.

Classification of household waste

Household waste may include household items unsuitable for subsequent use, food products and goods that have lost their consumer properties. This category also includes municipal solid waste, the classification of which is determined by the following elements: garbage and household waste.

The composition of this type of waste depends on such factors: the level of development of the region and the country, the cultural level of the population and its customs, the season, etc. About a third of all MSW is packaging material, the amount of which is constantly increasing.

Classification of household waste is based on multicomponent and heterogeneous composition, low density and instability (ability todecay). Residential buildings, as well as trade, sports and other enterprises and organizations are accepted as sources of waste generation.

The composition of such waste includes the following types:

• cardboard (paper);
• oversized materials;
• food waste;
• metals and plastics;
• leather and rubber;
• glass, textiles and wood.

This is a generalized waste classification.

Waste management

Among the so-called garbage, we can single out its main types that need to be recycled.

1. Household appliances. Its disposal is necessary for all enterprises that do not want to have problems with regulatory authorities. To carry out this process on your own, you need to have legal grounds for this, confirmed by the relevant documentation. In the absence of such permission, the business entity may have trouble. Therefore, the best option is to contact a company that deals with waste disposal professionally.
2. Plastic, Styrofoam, Paper, etc. In other words, the material that the package is made of. The process of processing these wastes includes their crushing, and only then it is formed into briquettes and used as secondary raw materials.
3. Fluorescent lamps. They are quite attractive for recycling, since the electronic unit, base and flask are valuable raw materials. It is known from practice that this garbage cannot simply be thrown away due to the fact that it contains mercury. However, when transferringFor disposal, many recycling companies require that this raw material be delivered by the supplier themselves, and this is an additional cost.
4. Batteries. Today, collection points for this type of garbage have already begun to appear. Therefore, the main emphasis of the state should be placed in the direction of propaganda, advertising and the awakening of consciousness among the population. This product, like fluorescent lamps, is also hazardous to the environment. One battery can pollute about 20 square meters. meters of land around and the time of its decomposition is a quarter of a century. It must also be remembered that inside it are such harmful metals as mercury, cadmium and lead.

Harmful waste in medicine

Classification of waste in medicine is based on the specialization of the relevant institutions. Mostly used bandages and gauze, human tissue, pharmaceuticals or blood.

All waste from he althcare facilities attracts special attention as it may pose a potential hazard to the environment.

All waste from he althcare facilities, depending on the level of toxicological, epidemiological and radiation hazard, are divided into five hazard classes.

Thus, class A is represented by non-hazardous waste, which includes substances that have not been in contact with the biological fluids of patients and infectious patients. This class includes non-toxic waste.

Class B includes infectious waste. This may include materials and tools,which are contaminated with the secretions of patients. It also includes organic matter from operations.

Hazard class B - very hazardous waste, which includes garbage from microlaboratories, as well as materials that have been in contact with patients with dangerous infectious diseases.

Class G - waste, similar in structure to industrial waste. These include: chemicals, cytostatics, and devices and equipment that contain mercury.

Hazard class D - radioactive waste, which includes waste from medical institutions containing radioactive components.

Summarizing what has been said, we can say with confidence that the proper disposal of waste of all kinds can be a guarantee of environmental friendliness, and this is so necessary in our difficult modern world.