ethical disposal of waste

March 24 2020

Effective Industrial Waste Management Methods

maj News ethical disposal of waste, liquid waste management, waste handling

We are all living in a country that’s grappling with proper waste management, right? Well, waste management is essential yet tricky for industrialised economies and sometimes proves a challenge for some countries.

Most countries are generating millions of tons of waste by the year, and the largest concern remains that of finding effective methods of managing this waste.

Ever wondered why waste management proves to be a menace for any developed and developing country? Waste management starts right from the disposal, which may water down any efforts of proper waste management.

The most effective methods of waste management are those that aim at reducing, reusing, and recycling waste material. Here are some of the most effective methods of managing waste:

Segregation
Recycling
Composting
Use of Landfills
Incineration/Combustion
Waste minimisation/Avoidance

Segregation

Effective waste management starts from the dumping of waste material, and it is important to separate the various types of waste materials.

Proper waste management also requires that the general public understands the various types of waste and whether they decompose.

With waste management being a collective effort by authorities, homeowners, and business owners, proper separation of waste material at the point of disposal helps greatly in waste management.

Various waste products such as plastics, glass, and other packaging materials take different durations to decompose, and some don’t decompose at all. As such, disposal points should have various bins to help separate the various waste types.

Such segregation efforts help separate hazardous waste from decomposable, recyclable, non-hazardous, and other materials. Essentially, segregation makes it easier to take action on each type of waste without much effort.

Recycling

Most of the waste in our modern societies probably comes from the increasing needs for production, packaging, and shipping. Most of the waste produced today may not be compostable or reusable but is definitely recyclable.

The first step to effective waste management is to identify waste that can be recycled. What follows is setting up dumpsters or bins into which such waste can be sorted. Materials such as PVC, PP, LDEP, and PS are recyclable.

As such, most recycling centres handle plastic, paper, and glass recycling. Cardboard, scrap metal, electronic waste, and food waste may also be recycled.

It is important to note that effective recycling depends on effective segregation and separation of waste materials. This helps eliminate hazardous waste from that which can be recycled.

Composting

Composting helps convert organic waste into fertilizer for crop production. Food waste is often composted, and unsafe organic material may also be converted into safe composting.

Other materials that can be composted include sawdust, pieces of cardboard, newspaper, and straw. Composting is a form of reusing and recycling organic waste and also provides soil with nutrients for crop growth.

Use of Landfills

Landfills are a common waste management method that is used for non-compostable, non-hazardous, and non-recyclable waste. Such waste is dumped in a landfill and later buried in the earth.

Such landfills are confined to a small area to reduce the area that may be polluted. Landfills are cost-efficient and reduce the effect of waste on the environment.

Incineration

This method involves the combustion of waste into base components. Incineration can also be a ‘waste to energy’ process where the heat generated is used to generate energy. The use of filters helps manage levels of pollution.

This method is quite inexpensive and helps reduce waste volume by about 90%.

Waste Minimisation

Waste minimisation seeks to address the frequency of waste formation through production. It is the perfect method of reducing the amount of waste to deal with and helps prevent the increase in waste products.

Conclusion

Waste management is essential for regulating the amount of waste in the environment. As such, methods such as composting, recycling, and incineration help manage non-toxic wastes.

Segregation is also an efficient method that helps separate the various types of waste while the use of landfills and waste minimisation help reduce the volume of waste in the environment, thereby reducing pollution.

IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES LIQUID OR SOLID WASTE REMOVAL, OR HYDRO EXCAVATION, PLEASE CALL US AT PRESSURE WORKS TODAY ON 0419 577 441 OR CONTACT US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.

November 24 2019

Can Suction Trucks be Used for Dry Waste as Well as Liquid Waste?

maj News Environmental Protection, ethical disposal of waste, liquid waste disposal, suction trucks, waste handling

Can suction trucks be used to collect dry waste as well as liquid waste? Suction trucks are most commonly associated with liquid waste but can remove dry waste too. Read below to learn more.

Suction trucks are most commonly used to remove sewage, clear septic tanks, and clean up spillages. However, what a lot of people don’t realise is that they can often be used to handle dry waste too.

Safe, Hygenic and Rapid Waste Removal

Suction trucks are used to remove liquid waste in a safe, hygienic fashion. They are useful because they can handle waste quickly and even minimise (but not completely stop) odours too.

Often, these trucks can be parked some distance away from the area that the waste is to be removed from. This is handy in areas where direct access to the site is not possible or would be inconvenient for other local residents.

Vacuum trucks offer an economical solution for waste management, and since the trucks are sealed and robust they allow for the safe transport of waste.

What Can Vacuum Trucks Transport

The most common things that these trucks transport are:

Sludge
Oils
Liquids
Caustics
Other dangerous liquid chemicals

However, they can also be used to extract and transport other substances. They are particularly efficient at the transport of solids that ‘behave like liquids’ such as powders, dust, and grains:

Sawdust
Polluted soil
Fine dust or ash
Dry bulk powders
Grains
Grits
Cement dust
Sand, gravel or blasting grit

How Suction Trucks Can Help With Cleanup

Suction trucks are useful because they allow for the collection of contaminants without excessive disturbance. If you ‘sweep up’ dry waste then there is the risk that dust will be kicked up into the air.

While that will still happen to some extent with vacuum trucks, it is less of a problem.

You can remove gravel, dust, sand, and powders from a site and comprehensively remove these particles without fear of kicking up too much dust.

As a result, the environmental impact of the cleanup operation is greatly reduced. This makes suction waste removal much better from a health and safety perspective compared to more traditional waste removal methods.

When removing water or liquid waste, hundreds of litres can be collected in a matter of minutes. The rate of suction may be slightly reduced for dry waste, depending on the size and shape of the waste, but it is generally rapid and safe.

Once the waste is in the container, it can travel along normal highways and be taken to a safe disposal site. Liquid waste should be treated before it is released, especially if the waste is a form of faecal sludge.

There are strict regulations dictating how much sludge should be collected, transported, stored and treated. The same is true for dry waste management.

Depending on the nature of the waste that you are trying to dispose of you may need to work with a specialist waste management company to ensure that it is treated appropriately.

Contaminated soil and potentially hazardous waste products should not be sent to landfill, or simply tipped into an open area.

The waste could break down and contaminate groundwater or have a significant negative impact on local wildlife.

When choosing a waste management company, look for one that is properly certified and insured, that pays attention to health and safety and to environmental safety too.

Pressure Works have many years of experience in hydro excavation and in suction/vacuum extraction and can advise you on the best options for safe waste removal.

We also provide non-destructive digging services so that you can manage your operation safely and efficiently with minimal impact on those around you, and on the environment.

IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES LIQUID OR SOLID WASTE REMOVAL, OR HYDRO EXCAVATION, PLEASE CALL US TODAY ON 0419 577 441 OR CONTACT US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.

November 8 2019

Innovative and Effective Liquid Waste Management Methods

maj News Dewatering Solutions, ethical disposal of waste, liquid waste disposal, liquid waste management, suction trucks

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.

IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES LIQUID WASTE REMOVAL, PLEASE CALL US TODAY ON 0419 577 441 OR CONTACT US THROUGH OUR WEBSITE.

August 18 2019

What Is The Difference Between Sludge And Liquid Waste?

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Sludge and slurry are the by-products produced by wastewater, refining, and industrial treatment processes which can contain, depending on the industry, non-hazardous water, biosolids, oils, mud, and other debris.

Both sludge and slurry contain a wet mixture of solid and liquid components. A sludge mixture is thick and soft while a slurry mixture is thin and sloppy.

Sludge or slurry waste can be stored in holding tanks or packaged in intermediate bulk containers, approved small containers or drums.

Effluent pumps are used for pumping effluent or water containing soft solids in suspension for removal and storage or further processing.

What is Sludge?

The term is widely used for a range of materials that contain a mixture of solids and water. The solid components in sludge can consist of:

inorganic material such as sand, rocks or other debris as well as the ash components of organic waste material
slowly digestible organic material
dead microbial cell mass

The particle size and PSD (Particle Size Distribution) of materials derived from different sources can vary from very fine to large some of which can be cohesive (sticking together) while others such as sand are generally non-cohesive.

Biosolids are stabilised or treated sewage sludge material produced during the biological treatment process of sewage.

Biosolids can be a reusable resource for agriculture as it contains significant amounts of organic matter, nutrients, moisture, and trace elements.

What is Slurry?

Slurry is a flowable suspension of small particles suspended in a liquid.

It can be a mixture of liquid waste from some types of industries or a thin watery mixture of fine, insoluble materials such as clay, mud or cement.

What is Liquid Waste?

Liquid waste is any kind of liquid residue that is hazardous to the environment or the health of people.

Usually, this type of waste generally comes from restaurants, laboratories, industrial buildings where tank cleaning operations are carried out, washing machine facilities, and other facilities where waste accumulates.

This includes septic tanks, grease traps, prescribed waste, solvents, resins, paints, oily water, surfactants, clinical or medical waste, and pesticides among others.

The most dangerous is chemical waste such as alcohols, formaldehyde, corrosive substances such as caustics and acids, quarantine waste and contaminated soil.

Dumping of liquid waste by chemical factories can cause serious problems by pollution the environment and damaging the health of people who rely on it.

Liquid waste should be removed by a professional waste disposal company that can dispose of all retail, commercial, industrial, hospitality, and domestic liquid waste.

They can provide services such as cleaning out septic tanks, degreasing oily waters and grease traps and pumping out, transporting, treating, and disposing of all liquid waste and sludge.

How is Sludge and Slurry Waste Handled?

Any type of liquid waste can be safely collected, treated and correctly disposed of at a licensed liquid waste treatment facility where strict EPA guidelines are followed.

A range of innovative sludge harvesting and processing technologies are used by highly trained and experienced personnel as part of a complete waste management solution.

The type of processing solution utilised will depend on the volume and quantity of contaminants present.

Sludge and slurry can be removed by using vacuum tankers for large volumes or safely packaged and transported for disposal, storage, or further processing.

Sludge and Slurry Processing

Clean liquids from sludge and slurry can be released to sewage while contaminated liquids are further treated and processed at a waste treatment plant.

Depending on the composition of the mixture, contents such as fats, grease or oil can be reused in a composting process in organic processing facilities for use in agriculture.

Remaining solids and muds are disposed of at landfills.

Large quantities of contaminants can be eliminated by sludge incineration, thereby bypassing waste to landfills.

Appropriate slurry, sludge, and liquid waste disposal services contribute greatly to keeping the environment as safe and clean as possible.

Whether you are in need of having a septic tank emptied, or you want a blocked sewer de-clogged, it is important that you call in a professional service.

They will be able to properly handle the volume of waste you need, de-water the waste, and then dispose of it at an appropriate site.

If you have a project that requires liquid waste removal using a hydro vacuum service, please call us today on 0419 577 441 or contact us through our website https://www.pressureworks.com.au/contact/.

July 29 2019

Where Is The Waste From Blocked Sewers Disposed Of?

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Do you have a blocked or clogged sewer? Do you know the best way to clean them and get rid of the smell? Where does the waste get disposed of? Please read below to learn the answers to these questions.

Blocked sewers are not a pleasant problem to have. Not only is the smell terrible, but it can also pose a number of health issues.

If your sewers become blocked or clogged then you will need to call in a professional company to unblock them, either with jets or using a hydro vacuum system.

Hydro vacuums are used to suck up large amounts of waste, which can be sludge or slime from building sites, overflowing cesspits or drains, or blocked sewers.

The Importance of Good Waste Handling

It is important that any waste which is collected from a sewer is transported and handled appropriately. Sewage is, by its very definition, unsanitary. It must be transported and disposed of by a company that is qualified to do so.

If sewage leaks out onto a road or pavement it could present a health hazard, and the problem could be even more severe if it were allowed to contaminate the local water supply.

The Australian Department of Health lays out several ways of treating sewage that is considered to be acceptable and safe.

Waste that is taken from a septic tank can be transported in sealed containers and then disposed of in a landfill, as long as it is downwind.

It must also be away from water supplies, and away from any other communal areas such as children’s play areas. Liquid sewage, however, may need more careful handling.

Dewatering Solutions for Sewage

There are many companies that offer dewatering solutions for sewage. This can be useful if you have a lot of waste to remove and you want to reduce the volume since treatment and disposal sites often charge by volume.

Sludge dewatering is performed using a belt press to squeeze the water out, so the water can be treated separately, while the waste can be buried or disposed of elsewhere.

Sealed tankers that have a high capacity and powerful pumps will transport sludge and sewage safely, and throughout the process, there is no leakage or issues.

If possible, it’s best to avoid companies that use older tanks and opt for those with more modern vehicles that are equipped with the latest tanks with powerful pumps and large hoses.

This means that when the waste is taken to the disposal site or treatment plant where it can be emptied quickly, easily and accurately. Some tanks must drive right up to the disposal site and then be angled to ‘pour out’ the waste.

Some trucks allow the operator to park further away if required and pump the waste out via a hose, which reduces the risk of mess or spillage.

Safe, Ethical Disposal

The safe and ethical disposal of waste from blocked sewers is not something that should be overlooked or scrimped on. Sewage can harbour many bacteria which can present a serious health risk to both humans and animals.

While it can be tempting to dispose of sewage the same way you might throw away other rubbish, it is vital that the wastewater and solids are treated to ensure that they are not able to contaminate public ground or water supplies.

If your skin does come into contact with sewage, however, it is important that you clean yourself thoroughly to reduce the risk of bacterial or viral infection.

Whether you are in need of having a septic tank emptied, or you want a blocked sewer de-clogged, it is important that you call in a professional service.

They will be able to properly handle the volume of waste you need, de-water the waste, and then dispose of it at an appropriate site.

If you have a project that requires hydro vacuum excavation, please call us today on 0419 577 441 or contact us through our website https://www.pressureworks.com.au/contact/.