Hazardous waste treatment and disposal technology: summary

Many different hazardous waste treatment technologies can be used prior to ultimate disposal. Their aims are modification of the physical and/or chemical properties of the waste. They reduce volume, inmobilize toxic components or detoxify. The choice of the best practicable way of treating a given waste depends on many factors, including the availability and suitability of disposal or traetment facilities, safety standards, and cost considerations. No disposl route offers absolute safety, and any waste treatment or disposal technology has an associated level of risk. Selection of a treatment process for a given waste stream is not easy and involves consideration of: the nature of the waste, the desired characteristics of the output stream, the technical adequacy of the treatment alternatives, economic and financial considerations, environmental considerations, energy considerations and the making of an overall evaluation. Hazardous waste management involves prevention, treatment and disposal. Prevention includes both waste and volume reduction. One aim of any hazardous waste management strategy should be reduce to a minimum the quantity of hazardous waste that must be managed and that requires disposal. Treatment and disposal techniques render the waste less hazardous and dispose of them in a manner such that environmental and human health problems do not occur. Some of the treatment process identified are physical, chemical, biological and thermal