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About 7.6 billion tons of industrial solid waste are generated and managed on-site at industrial facilities each year. Almost 97 percent is wastewater managed in surface impoundments; the remainder is managed in landfills, waste piles, and land application units. Most of these wastewaters are treated and ultimately discharged into surface waters under Clean Water Act permits issued by EPA or state governments (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System or NPDES permits).
Industrial waste is process waste associated with manufacturing. These wastes come from the broad spectrum of American industries. This waste usually is not classified as either municipal waste or hazardous waste by federal or state laws. Although state, tribal, and some local governments have regulatory responsibility for ensuring proper management of industrial waste, their regulatory programs vary widely.
Key steps to managing industrial waste:
- Understand and comply with all existing federal, state, or tribal regulations, permits, and operating agreements that apply to a waste management unit.
- Thoroughly characterize constituents and concentrations in your waste. Waste characterization is the foundation for choosing and implementing tailored, protective management practices.
- Take advantage of pollution prevention opportunities. Pollution prevention, recycling and, to some extent, treatment, can minimize reliance on waste disposal, reduce disposal costs, and reduce future costs and liabilities for closure and post closure care and potential corrective action. Pollution prevention can also conserve raw materials.
- Build partnerships between all stakeholders who have an interest in waste management decisions. Keep stakeholders informed and involved on an ongoing basis.
- Tailor management practices to the wastes and the environmental setting of the unit. Key factors to take into account include siting, operation, design, monitoring, corrective action, closure and post closure care. EPA recommends risk-based approaches to choose liner systems and waste application rates for ground-water protection and to evaluate the need for air controls.