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"The USEPA is encouraging hazardous waste generators to develop programs to reduce the generation of hazardous waste. To encourage such programs the Agency's Hazardous Waste Engineering Research Laboratory is supporting the development and evaluation of a model hazardous waste minimization audit procedure. The procedure was tested in several facilities in the summer of 1986. Waste minimization audits (WMAs) have been carried out in an electric arc furnace (EAF) specialty steelmaking complex. These audits were intended to develop waste minimization options for two hazardous waste streams at this facility: corrosive waste and heavy metals waste. Waste minimization options considered were in one of three categories: source reduction, recycling or treatment (in the same order of preference). Application of WMA methodology to a corrosive waste stream (KO62) generated at one plant in this complex, resulted in the development of a promising recycling option for the recovery of calcium fluoride (fluorspar) which is directly usable as a metallurgical flux (replacing presently purchased material) in the EAF steelmaking process at this facility. Savings obtained by using this option (including $68,000 savings from a thirty percent reduction in off site nonhazardous waste disposal, and $100,000 savings in purchased chemical costs) were estimated at $168,000 annually, and the proposed .process could largely use existing process equipment. Application of the WMA methodology to a heavy metals-bearing waste (EAF dust-listed waste KO61) generated at another plant in the steelmaking complex did not result in any viable source reduction or recycling options for this waste. However, a detoxification treatment step proposed for this material is economically attractive based on preliminary estimates, and bench-scale development of this option appears warranted." |
