There is no general classification of consumption and production waste. Therefore, for convenience, the basic principles of this separation are often used.
Principles for subdividing waste into types
So, the structure of the basic principles is represented by the following elements:
- by sources of education (industry-specific);
- according to the state of aggregation;
- on production cycles;
- in directions of use.
Let us dwell on each of them.
By industry
This classification of waste in practice has received the greatest distribution. It is built on an industry principle. The largest share is occupied by the classification of industrial wastes, among which one can single out: non-ferrous or ferrous metallurgy wastes , coal, chemical and woodworking industries.
By state of aggregation
Such a classification of wastes makes it possible to more accurately identify them as liquid, solid or gaseous. Such a unit is important when choosing the technology for their storage, further processing or destruction.
So, gaseous wastes should be stored in specialized tanks, liquid - in airtight containers, and solid - in containers, at sites or landfills.
To determine the technology for their processing, the classification of waste into classes represented by the degree of explosion hazard and combustibility should be used. We must not forget about their toxicity.
Production Cycles
Sometimes the classification of production wastes is used, which is organized according to an industry principle.
This allows them to be detailed according to the technological stages of product manufacturing to identify operations during which any by-products may form.
An example is the chemical industry, in which, during the synthesis of organic substances, bulk residues can form that are not provided for in the production process (during distillation or distillation).
The classification of wastes considered above into classes is aimed at considering the issue of their use as recyclables. Therefore, such a ranking reflects primarily quantitative indicators, and only then - qualitative ones.
Physico-chemical properties of garbage
The classification of wastes according to their physicochemical properties is important in assessing their impact on the environment. This, of course, applies to hazardous and toxic constituents.
The World Health Organization has developed a hazard classification of waste, adopted by the UN as an environmental program. It includes a list of hazardous and toxic components that are released
during the manufacturing process. The same list includes the following substances: arsenic, pharmaceuticals, various organohalogen compounds and, of course, mercury.
As a characteristic of the toxicity of substances, a lethal dose coefficient is adopted, when using which a fatal outcome occurs in half of the experimental animals.
Hazardous waste separation
Waste hazard classification is based on the concentration of toxic substances that 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. Moreover, this approach is imperfect, since the process of evaluating them as raw materials for further consumption in the manufacturing 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 the saving of energy and raw materials. Therefore, in modern business conditions, the interests of potential consumers and producers are converging, who own modern production facilities and technologies for using waste as raw materials.
Unlike primary raw materials, waste can not be pre-oriented to the specific scope of their use. So, the same waste is used in different 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 combined into three main groups:
- They 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 the technology of waste processing and the quality of the products obtained, taking into account a set of economic and environmental problems.
- Municipal solid waste, the classification of which is based on the possibilities of using as secondary raw materials. In other words, a certain set of characteristics is set that can be measured and entered into the technical conditions, as well as regulatory and technical documents responsible for the optimal directions of waste processing.
- Since primary raw materials have the ability to turn into waste during the production process, along with the loss or deterioration of some consumer qualities, updated properties are acquired that were uncharacteristic of the analogue at the initial stage.
Therefore, the description of the waste should be based on the definition for each individual type of characteristics to be measured and the effective direction of its use.
Waste classification by technical characteristics
Based on the division of substances that are released during the production process, they can be combined 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, their measurement is necessary when determining new and non-traditional ways of using recyclables.
The determination of the properties of the first group is carried out by working out the corresponding scientific literature and normative and technical documentation.
For waste with newly acquired properties, methods are required that are unified as methods for measuring their properties, as well as identifying other necessary properties.
Waste Classification
Household waste, food products and goods that have lost their consumer properties may be classified as household waste. 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, season, etc. About a third of all MSW is packaging material, the amount of which is constantly increasing.
The classification of household waste is based on the multicomponent and heterogeneous composition, low density and instability (the ability to rot). Residential buildings, as well as trade, sports and other enterprises and organizations are accepted as sources of garbage.
The composition of such waste includes the following types:
- cardboard (paper);
- bulky materials;
- food waste;
- metals and plastic;
- leather and rubber;
- glass, textile and wood.
This is the generalized classification of waste.
Recycling
Among the so-called garbage, one can distinguish its main types that need to be recycled.
- Appliances. Its disposal is needed by all enterprises that do not want to have problems with regulatory authorities. To carry out this process, you need to have legal grounds on your own, supported by relevant documentation. In the absence of such a permit, a business entity may have trouble. Therefore, the best option is to contact a company that deals with waste disposal professionally.
- Plastic, polystyrene, paper, etc. In other words, the material of which the package consists. The processing of these wastes involves their crushing, and only then it is formed into briquettes and used as secondary raw materials.
- Fluorescent lamps. They are attractive enough for processing, since the electronic unit, cap and bulb are valuable raw materials. It is known from practice that this garbage cannot simply be thrown away because it contains mercury. However, when transferring for recycling, many processing companies require that this raw material be delivered by the supplier on their own, and this is an additional cost.
- Batteries Today, reception centers 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 harmful 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 is also necessary to remember that inside it are harmful metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead.
Harmful trash in medicine
The classification of waste in medicine is based on the specialization of the respective institutions. These are mainly used bandages and gauze, human tissues, pharmaceuticals or blood.
All garbage from medical facilities attracts special attention, as it can be a potential hazard to the environment.
All waste from healthcare facilities, depending on the level of toxicological, epidemiological and radiation hazards, is divided into five hazard classes.
So, class A is represented by non-hazardous waste, which includes substances that have not been in contact with biological fluids of patients and infectious patients. This class includes nontoxic trash.
Class B includes infected waste. This may include materials and tools that are contaminated with the secretions of patients. It also includes organic matter after surgery.
Hazard class B - very hazardous waste, which includes debris from micro laboratories, as well as materials that have been in contact with patients with dangerous infectious diseases.
Class G - garbage, close in structure to industrial. This includes: chemicals, cytostatics, as well as instruments and equipment that include mercury.
Hazard class D - radioactive waste, which includes the garbage of medical institutions containing radioactive components.
To summarize the above, it is safe to say that the proper disposal of all types of waste can be a guarantee of environmental friendliness, and this is so necessary in our difficult modern world.