Understanding Types of Toxic and Hazardous Waste

• Toxic and hazardous waste originates from various sources, posing risks to human and environmental health due to their chemical, biological, or radiological properties.
• Specialized treatment methods are needed to prevent pollution and long-term ecological damage.

Classification of Toxic and Hazardous Waste

• Ignitable wastes (flammable solvents) burn at low temperatures and create immediate fire hazards.
• Corrosive wastes (acids and bases) are strong acidic or alkaline substances that destroy solid material and living tissue upon contact through chemical reactions.
• Reactive wastes (explosive chemicals) are chemically unstable, reacting violently with air or water, potentially causing explosions or forming toxic vapors.
• Toxic wastes (heavy metals, pesticides) contain poisons, even in small amounts.
• Infectious wastes include used bandages and hypodermic needles from hospitals or biological research facilities.
• Pathogenic wastes have the capacity to harbor and transmit pathogens, particularly solid and healthcare waste, posing risks to public health and the environment.
• Hazardous waste treatment includes chemical, thermal, biological and physical methods.
• High-temperature incineration can detoxify and destroy organic wastes.

Methods of Treatment

• Physical Treatment separates hazardous components without altering their chemical nature.
  • It includes Filtration and Sedimentation, often used in wastewater treatment to remove suspended particles
  • It includes Solidification and Stabilization for encapsulating hazardous waste in materials like cement to prevent leaching.
• Chemical Treatment alters hazardous waste properties to make them less harmful.
  • Neutralization mixes acids and bases to form neutral compounds.
  • Oxidation and Reduction treats heavy metals and organic pollutants

Biological Treatment

• Microorganisms break down hazardous substances into less toxic forms.
  • Bioremediation uses bacteria and fungi to degrade contaminants
  • Composting decomposes organic hazardous waste into stable matter.

Thermal Treatment

• This involves using high temperatures to destroy hazardous substances.
  • Incineration burns hazardous waste, reducing volume but may produce toxic emissions
  • Plasma Arc Technology uses ionized gas at high temperatures to break down complex chemicals.
• Secure Landfilling is used for waste that cannot be treated, using engineered landfills that must have
  • Leachate collection systems to prevent groundwater contamination.
  • Gas recovery systems to capture harmful emissions

Laws Governing Toxic and Hazardous Waste Treatment

• Republic Act 6969, also known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, regulates and prohibits importing, manufacturing, processing, sale, distribution, use, and disposal of hazardous chemicals; it also encourages toxic chemical research.
• Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, establishes a systematic ecological solid waste management program. This promotes resource conservation and recovery through environmentally sound methods like composting, recycling, and green charcoal processes, aimed at volume reduction and waste avoidance.
• Republic Act 9275, also known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 is an "Economic Growth Policy for Fresh, Blackfish, and Marine Waters" signed on March 22, 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and put into effect on May 6, 2004.
• Republic Act 8749, also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 or the "Air Pollution Control Law", sets regulations for air quality protection, strict emission standards, and it aims to reduce pollutants and promote sustainable development.
• Presidential Decree 1586, also known as the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System of 1978, introduced the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System to balance socio-economic development and environmental protection. It mandates all projects with significant environmental impacts to prepare an EIS, empowers the Minister of Human Settlements to designate lead agencies for EIS preparation, requires an Environmental Compliance Certificate for environmentally critical projects, and authorizes the President to declare certain projects as environmentally critical.

Federal Laws pertaining to waste

• RCRA sets standards for hazardous waste management.
• TSCA allows EPA regulation of hazardous chemicals.
• OSH Act authorizes OSHA to address workplace hazards.
• Clean Water Act regulates pollutants discharge into national waters.
• EPCRA requires chemical, facility owners to submit reports and present public information.