Overview of Industrial Waste Management

In the 18th century, the industrial revolution transformed rural areas into industrialised and urban ones. But this change also presented a significant issue and a threat to our environment,i.e., waste generated through industries. Industrial Waste is the waste generated by industrial activities. Numerous sources, including manufacturing businesses, different mills, mines, power plants, etc., produce all kinds of waste. It generates solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes such as ashes, industrial effluent, chemicals, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and other substances that must be decomposed or handled to protect ourselves and our environment. All manufacturing facilities need Industrial Waste Management to some extent. These undesirable by-products of industrial operations must be handled and disposed of carefully since they frequently harm the environment or people's health. Thiswriteupwill include the following:

• How waste is managed in an industrial setting
• Why is industrial waste an issue for your company even if you think you are managing it appropriately
• Advice on how to incorporate pollution avoidance into your waste management system

Industrial waste types Industrial Waste can be separated into the two categories below.

• Biodegradable Industrial Waste
• Non – Biodegradable Industrial Waste

Biodegradable wastes are those waste products that microbes may break down into simpler, non-harmful substances. Some industries, including those in the paper, food, sugar, and wool sectors, among others, primarily produce biodegradable industrial wastes. These wastes can be readily and affordably managed.

Non-biodegradable wastes include chemicals, metals, plastics, paints, rubber, and many others. Without causing any harm, these materials are used in landfills for a long time. Metal and plastic pollutants seep into the ground and contaminate the soil and water supplies. Industries that manufacture cleaning products like detergent, phenols, etc., and those that produce coal or are in decline, among others, generate a lot of non-biodegradable industrial waste.

Benefits of Industrial Waste Management

1. Waste Minimization - Producing less garbage is one of the best strategies to reduce the expenses of industrial waste disposal. New production techniques that are more effective and generate less waste are actively being sought after by numerous sectors. These contemporary methods not only use fewer raw resources but also save these companies money on the storage or disposal of industrial waste.
2. Recycling - For some types of non-hazardous trash, waste recycling is a popular method of waste disposal. The items that cannot be recycled must instead be disposed of in another way. Among the materials that are frequently recycled are:

• paper
• aluminium
• some electronics
• Plastic
• Non-tempered glass

3. New job opportunities - Transportation, processing, and reselling are all steps in Industrial Waste Management, and they all requireworkers with various skills. Recycling and reuse generate at least nine times as many jobs as landfills and incinerators and maybe up to 30 times as many jobs.

4. Stay Compliant - For the sake of environmental protection and community safety, local, state, and federal governments impose various waste policies. Based on the trash that different processes produce, these specifications will differ amongst industries. Your business may comply with these requirements and avoid penalties in the future by practising responsible waste management practices.

Documents required for Industrial Waste Management 

These are the following documents that are required for Industrial Waste Management:

• Application to the Pollution Control Board 
• Signed Undertaking
• Site Plan of the unit Project Report Layout plan, including information on potential point sources for hazardous waste generation, solid waste, air emissions, and effluent discharge.
• Information about the production process and a list of the equipment
• Information on the water balance, the source of the water, and the needed amount
• Land records like lease or rent agreements Industry Registration Records.
• Payment for consent fee(as applicable)
• Process Flow Chart
• GST Certificate 
• PAN Card of Authorized Signatory
• Details of Installed Machinery 
• Proof of Site Ownership or Rent/Lease Agreement
• Any other paperwork listed on the application 

Requirements for Industrial Waste Management

1. Pain Points - Before developing a management plan, you must ascertain which processes you find challenging to work on those points. Perhaps maintaining a tank cleaning plan is difficult for you, or perhaps you have more liquid waste than you know what to deal with. In addition to other regulatory procedures, adhering to government regulations on proper garbage disposal could be challenging.

2. Setting up Thresholds - How much waste can your business handle before it becomes difficult to manage? You could set varying restrictions for garbage that can accumulate in your facility depending on the type of business you operate. Understanding your waste thresholds will help you determine which wastes require more care than others and how much waste you can have before it becomes dangerous.
3. Frequency - You can schedule your waste management procedures using your determined thresholds. Consider how frequently you produce different sorts of garbage and how often you'll need to react.
4. Collaboration - Having identified your pain areas, thresholds, and frequencies, you can seek the assistance of waste management agencies or TSDFs to help you carry out your strategy. Professionals in management and recycling can supply resources that your organisation may not have, ensuring that you always operate safely, legally, and effectively.

Licences and Approvals required for the management of Industrial Waste:

• Hazardous Waste Management Authorisation or Membership with a TSDF facility – TDSF is a treatment facility involving Treatment, Storage, and Disposal. There will always be a requirement of the Treatment, Storage and Disposal of some amount of Hazardous Industrial Waste.
• Consent NOC (To be periodically renewed) – A No Objection Certificate for the Management and Disposal of Industrial Waste must be obtained from the State Pollution Control Authority, which will require the business owner to adhere to the post-compliance norms related to industrial waste.
• CGWA (Central Ground Water Authority) NOC – A No Objection Certificate must be obtained from the Central Ground Water Authority to withdraw Ground Water by industries.

Setting up of an ETP (Effluent Treatment Plant) – It is mandatory for industries to set up ETP for the effective discharge of Hazardous/ non-hazardous wastewater in water-intensive industries.

Process for Industrial Waste Management

Waste characterisation is required to assess each type of waste your facility produces, its level of production, and the best strategy to manage it.

• An engineer with significant process understanding is one example of an expert consultant used in the characterisation process.
• A representative of quality assurance;
• A member of the sample team.

The steps to manage Industrial Waste are as follows:

• Analysis– Industrial waste is segregated or analysed, and recyclable and biodegradable wastes are stored separately. Industries should separate garbage into several categories, such as hazardous waste, non-biodegradable waste, and biodegradable Waste at the source, as per the SWM Rules.
• Collection and Transportation – Industrial waste must be sorted and delivered to Waste processing facilities.
• Recovery – Recovery should be carried out at waste management facilities. It means that valuable and recyclable materials should be recovered during the processing of industrial wastes in waste management facilities.
• Recycling and Disposal – Recycling hazardous waste or its disposal should be done if any valuable items are discovered during recovery.