What Counts as Industrial Waste in Connecticut?
If you’ve ever wondered what industrial waste entails, read on! The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes industrial waste as waste generated by industrial or manufacturing processes, like the manufacture or generation of electricity, organic and inorganic chemicals, food and its by-products, , iron, steel, and non-ferrous metals, leather, plastics, resins, paper, rubber, transportation equipment, and water treatment. It does not, however, include mining waste or oil and gas waste.
What Counts as Industrial Waste?
Industrial waste can be hazardous or non-hazardous, and there are strict regulations governing the disposal of each type that help protect irreplaceable natural resources. Industrial waste doesn’t just end up in landfills; a large portion of industrial waste can actually be recycled, reclaimed, or reused. Here are a few examples:
-
Sand from metal foundries can be reused as aggregate in Portland cement and masonry mixtures.
-
Coal ash can be used to create new ceiling tiles.
-
Latex paint can be mixed with ash to make cement mix for concrete.
-
Mercury can be recovered from broken thermometers and reused.
-
Used acetone and paint thinner can be distilled back into their pure forms.
-
Lead can be recovered from lead paint and lead batteries.
-
Gold can be recovered from electronic components.
For more information about disposal of industrial wastes in Connecticut, including oils, asbestos, grinding dusts, and liquid and solid chemical wastes, check with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Their website explains the rules and regulations governing the disposal of these wastes, and also describes how to determine whether waste is hazardous, requires a permit to process or dispose of, and has information about DEEP’s Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division.
Key Takeaways:
-
Industrial waste is the waste generated by industrial or manufacturing processes
-
There are strict regulations associated with the disposal of industrial waste
-
Some types of industrial waste can be recycled