Do you know how many different waste management methods there are? Some of these methods may actually surprise you. Please read more below as we take a look at this in more detail.
Waste management, also referred to as waste disposal, is the process of handling waste from the time it’s created to when it’s finally eliminated.
Waste management, therefore, involves activities such as collection, transport, treatment and elimination. Different types of waste (solid, liquid, and gas) require different types of handling or waste management procedures.
In the case of liquid waste management; individuals, companies and institutions are all required to follow strict rules and regulations that govern liquid waste handling and disposal.
Responsible parties must find effective and innovative ways of handling any and all liquid waste they create. Here are some of the effective and innovative methods used by people to manage liquid waste.
1. Root Zoning
Root zoning is a process that is used to handle liquid waste or wastewater from homes and businesses. Liquid waste from these places usually comes from kitchens and bathrooms which means that it’s not necessarily toxic.
The wastewater is first taken through a sedimentation tank where it’s filtered to remove solid substances and other foreign objects.
Next, the water is transferred to a water treatment facility where it’s recycled and made safe for domestic use. The clean water can be released into nature without any negative effect on the environment.
Root zoning requires specialised liquid waste treatment equipment which makes it slightly expensive, but it’s very effective.
2. Solidification
Sometimes, the best way to dispose of liquid waste is to convert it to solid waste. This is what solidification is all about. Solid waste is sometimes easier to handle than liquid waste.
Some companies prefer dealing with solid waste over liquid waste because the former is easier to transport and dispose of. Solid waste can be easily be disposed of in designated landfills.
The process of turning liquid waste to solid waste usually involves adding substances like lime dust, sawdust or fly ash.
There are also some innovative technologies out there today that can turn liquid waste into solid waste without too much trouble. Solidification generally makes it easier to dispose of liquid waste.
3. Composting
Composting is another effective liquid waste management technique. Composting is specifically used for liquid organic waste. This is basically wastewater that is full of organic matter.
Composting removes the water in the liquid waste to leave dry organic matter that can be turned into fertiliser.
Organic fertilisers are very much sought after in agricultural circles because they are rich in crucial nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and sodium.
Composting provides an innovative solution for converting liquid waste into beneficial fertilisers and other farm inputs.
4. Sedimentation
This method is specifically used to treat non-toxic liquid waste. The liquid waste is usually put in a sedimentation tank where dirt and debris are removed.
The water that remains is filtered and treated before being released into nature. The solid waste derived from this process is sent to a landfill for proper disposal.
5. Dewatering
Dewatering is similar to sedimentation in that water is removed from the liquid waste and the remaining solid waste is sent to a landfill.
However, with dewatering, the liquid waste is usually pumped into a porous bag where the water in the waste is sifted out leaving the solid waste intact. The solid waste is then conveniently transported to landfills.
6. Incineration
When dealing with toxic or hazardous liquid waste, the best waste management method to use is incineration. Incineration involves heating liquid waste to very high temperatures using specialised furnaces and other equipment.
The most common types of wastes that are disposed of using this method include acid, lab chemicals, oils, rock tailings, slag and scrap metals.