Waste Management in Engineering — Repairing, Recycling, and Innovating
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveWaste management is a fundamental part of any business, but
it can often be forgotten. In many sectors of engineering, from civil
engineering to electro mechanical engineering, responsible waste management is
of the utmost importance. After all, the waste produced by large engineering
firms can be staggering, and potentially hazardous. As well as managing their
own production waste in line with government regulations and environmental
laws, it often comes down to engineering firms to work towards new, efficient
waste-management solutions for everyone.
How much waste are construction and engineering responsible for?
According to the 2020 Department for Environment, Food &
Rural Affairs (DEFRA) report on waste and resources, the UK’s commercial and
industrial sectors were responsible for 41.1
million tonnes of waste in 2016 (33.1 million tonnes of which was generated
in England alone). In the same year, the construction, demolition, and
excavation (CDE) industries generated around three fifths (62
per cent) of the UK’s total waste.
As well as the vast amount of waste produced by these commercial sectors, consideration must also be given to the hazardous nature of some of the waste produced. Many of the waste contributions from the engineering and construction sectors are classified as hazardous and fall under the Hazardous Waste Regulations (2005). Under this legislation, each company that produces hazardous waste is liable for disposing of this waste in a responsible way. This warrants the need for a licensed waste carrier with the appropriate site permits.
What are the best waste management solutions?
Within the CDE industries, there are many different waste
management solutions to consider. When dealing with hazardous and electrical
waste, it isn’t an option to simply dump excess materials. In 2014, the Waste
Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations became law, in response to
the fact that an estimated two million tonnes of WEEE
items are discarded each year. According to the Waste Resource Action Programme
(WRAP), electrical waste is the fastest growing source of waste in the UK. Of
course, households play a part in this waste disposal as well, but the majority
of damage is done by companies.
In response to this, the engineering sector has come up with
numerous solutions, and ways in which themselves and companies in other sectors
can better manage industrial waste. These methods include:
· Treatment
technologies: this includes research into biodegradable and
non-biodegradable waste and treating said waste to make it safer to store,
transport, and repurpose.
· Recycling
and re-purposing: for the engineering and construction industries, it’s
both environmentally friendly and cost-effective to reuse and repurpose waste
wherever possible. As well as recycling, repairing is another cost-efficient
and environmentally beneficial way of cutting down on waste. Conducting electric
motor repair, for example, could drastically decrease the amount of WEEE
waste in the long run.
· Facilities
and systems: as well as managing their own waste, engineering and
construction companies are responsible for coming up with efficient waste
management solutions across a variety of sectors. Designing and developing
waste management facilities and systems such as waste processing plants or
drainage systems is a fundamental part of the industry.
Engineering and construction companies may well create many
waste management solutions, but when it comes to disposing of their own
company’s waste, contacting an expert is imperative. Many specific hazardous
waste companies are currently in operation in the UK, and they will organise
the safe collection, recycling, and disposal of your waste — even the
substances that are particularly dangerous or hazardous.
As well as historically being responsible for a large amount
of industrial waste, the engineering industry is constantly coming up with new,
innovative waste management ideas. With more emphasis than ever being placed on
the importance of recycling or repairing rather than disposing of vital
materials, this sector is on track to become greener and more responsible than
ever before.
Sources
https://civilengineersite.com/waste-management/
https://www.hse.gov.uk/waste/waste-electrical.htm
https://www.wastecare.co.uk/recycle-by-industry-sector/engineering/
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Created on Nov 27th 2020 08:39. Viewed 440 times.