Modern waste processing technologies. We recycle waste and get... energy resources

One of the youngest holidays in the world - Day. During this day, the inhabitants of planet Earth do not. Not on the shoulders. Not . On this day, all over the planet they thought, talked and showed how trillions of tons of garbage could be recycled to make the world cleaner and brighter. The best holiday!

Day waste recycling, or Recycling Day, decided to celebrate in 1997 in the most industrialized and, logically, the dirtiest country in the world - the USA. To the credit of the Americans, it must be said that they, more than others (with the possible exception of Europeans), care about recycling plastic, aluminum and other joys of civilization.

On Recycling Day (November 15), the most important government reports were released in the United States on how many plastic bottles were recycled per capita (5% more), what to do with waste paper (to make environmentally friendly containers and biofuel out of it) and how much aluminum is needed jars to build a plane (a lot).

And on this day, we summed up what was accomplished on the processing front in 2011. The most interesting and funny examples waste recycling you see in these photos.

The “alien” motorcycle was built last summer by a tuning master from Bangkok with the incredible name Roongrojna Sangwongprisarn. The motorcycle is distinguished not only by the craftsmanship of its creator, but also by the fact that the miracle chopper is basically made from junk.

Australians' strong point is recycling bicycles. This is what the Sydney Christmas tree presented for last Recycling Day is made from.

Argentine fashion designer Lucrezia Lovera makes fashionable handbags from magnetic tape from video cassettes...

And a Paraguayan cellist plays the composition “Trash Melodies” from the “Sounds of the Earth” cycle on an instrument made from garbage. It would be worth playing something from Modest Mussorgsky on such an instrument.

The last photo shows a catamaran with the wonderful name Plastics (similar to Kon-Tiki), which Australians built from 11 thousand bottles and cans. It symbolizes: if all countries and peoples of the world unite in a rush waste recycling, then together they will make the sky, earth and ocean clean.

Disposal and recycling of household waste is a pressing problem in the modern world. There are more and more landfills on earth; extensive littering threatens an environmental disaster. The solution to the problem is recycling of solid waste at specialized waste processing plants. Following the conditions of objective reality, humanity needs to improve waste disposal methods in order to achieve the most effective processing of solid waste at minimal cost.

3 reasons why competent recycling of solid waste is necessary

Waste can be divided into the following: kinds:

• Household waste. We include human waste in this group. The garbage that is thrown out of residential buildings and administrative buildings. Plastic products, food scraps, paper, glass and other items. Many wastes are classified as hazard classes IV and V.

The issue of plastic waste should be resolved as follows: the waste is subject to mechanical grinding, followed by chemical treatment with solutions, as a result of such manipulations a mass is formed from which polymer products can be made again. Paper and food scraps can turn into compost, rot and benefit the agricultural sector of the economy.

• Biological waste. This type of waste is produced by biological species (human and animal). A large number of such materials are produced by veterinary clinics, hospitals, sanitary and hygienic organizations, catering establishments and other similar institutions. Biological waste is destroyed by incineration. All organic materials can be disposed of using this method.
• Industrial waste. Such waste is the result of production processes. Construction, the operation of industrial equipment, installation and finishing work - all this leaves behind a huge amount of wood, paints and varnishes, thermal insulation materials, some of which can also be burned. For example, wood releases energy during combustion, which can also be used for purposes beneficial to society.
• Radioactive waste. Often, biomaterials and other waste contain radioactive substances that pose a danger. This group also includes gases and solutions - that is, those wastes that cannot be used in the future. Some of this waste can be destroyed by burning, but the rest can only be buried.
• Medical waste. This is waste from medical institutions, 80% of which is non-hazardous household waste, and the remaining 20% ​​poses a risk to the human body. Like the processing of radioactive waste, the destruction of this type of waste has many restrictions and prohibitions in Russian legislation. The methods of its burning and burial are described in detail. For medical waste, as well as for radioactive waste, special burial grounds are created. Some people dispose of medical waste this way: they put it in bags and burn it. But many drugs belong to hazard classes I and II, so this disposal method is clearly not for them.

All waste is classified according to the degree of its danger to the environment. There are four hazard classes in total. The first class is garbage, which poses the most serious threat to the planet and all organisms living on it. If you do not recycle first class solid waste in the manner prescribed by law, the damage to the ecological system may be irreparable. Waste of the first hazard class: mercury, lead salts, plutonium, polonium, etc.

Waste of the second hazard class can also greatly harm the environment. The effects of such damage will continue to impact for a long time. The planet will recover within 30 years after being polluted by such waste. These include arsenic, selenium, chlorine, phosphates, etc.

After waste of the third class of danger, the ecosystem can recover within a decade. Of course, restoration is possible only after processing solid waste, otherwise the waste will not stop harming the environment. The third class includes zinc, ethyl alcohol, chromium, etc.

The fourth hazard class is low-hazard waste (simazine, sulfates, chlorides). After their removal from the contaminated object, the ecosystem needs three years to recover.

But fifth class waste is completely safe.

Let's consider why is it necessary proper processing of solid waste:

1. Waste pollutes the environment, which is already oversaturated with emissions from factories and vehicle emissions.
2. Resources that are extracted from nature or created industrially are seriously limited, so it is advisable to recycle and reuse them.
3. It turns out to be cheaper to use recycled raw materials, so recycling MSW is economically beneficial.

The most common methods of processing solid waste

Method 1.Garbage disposal.

Landfills are created specifically for the purpose of processing solid waste on their territory. The waste stream enters these areas (up to 95%), and then the organic part decomposes spontaneously. In the landfill area, special conditions are created for an intense biochemical dissociation process. The resulting anaerobic environment promotes recycling, enhanced by methanogenic microorganisms that form biogas (otherwise known as “landfill gas”). What is the disadvantage of such polygons? Landfill gas toxins enter the atmospheric air and spread in the direction of the wind over vast distances. And if industrial emissions are mixed in with them, then the environment is exposed to even greater danger.

Given the accumulation of microorganisms that enhance the occurrence of chemical reactions, fires may occur locally due to excessive overheating. At the same time, polyaromatic hydrocarbons are released into the environment, causing cancer. Such emissions are thousands of times higher than the permissible concentrations of such substances in the air. Aqueous solutions formed in the air fall out in the form of precipitation, the evaporation of which, as with the combustion of polymer substances, releases dioxins. Thus, through precipitation, harmful chemical elements enter ground and surface waters.

Since it is impossible to set up such landfills within the city, areas outside large populated areas are allocated for them. If you calculate the cost of allocating territories, their arrangement according to all the rules, transportation costs for transporting waste to such a solid waste processing site, you will get a rather impressive figure. Add to this air pollution associated with the release of combustion products of motor fuel and the wear and tear of suburban roads. The picture is not rosy.

Due to the fact that the qualified development of solid waste processing sites is associated with high costs, some people prefer to organize unauthorized landfills. In such places of unauthorized storage there is no any sealing; liquid waste directly enters the environment without going through the neutralization stage, creating a high danger for the population. And these landfills are only multiplying and growing.

Thus, storing unprocessed waste in landfills is very dangerous, and therefore this method of disposal should be prohibited at the legislative level. And there are many reasons for this:

• lack of bacteriological and epidemiological safety;
• rapid spread of substances hazardous to the human body over large areas (penetration into air, water, soil);
• release of dioxins during fire;
• the high cost of land and landfill development, as well as the need for subsequent reclamation of the site;
• contradiction to the “Fundamentals of state policy in the field of environmental development of the Russian Federation for the period until 2030”.

Method 2.Composting waste.

This method of processing solid waste is based on the fact that some of the waste can be disposed of independently - through biodegradation. Thus, organic waste can be composted. Nowadays, there are special technologies for composting food waste and unseparated garbage.

Mass composting is not common in our country, but is used by that part of the population that has private houses or summer cottages. However, in general, it is possible to organize the waste composting process centrally, by allocating special sites for this. The resulting compost can later be successfully used in the agricultural industry.

Method 3.Thermal waste processing (MSW).

Organic matter can also be easily destroyed thermally. Thermal processing of solid waste is a sequential procedure for exposing waste to heat in order to reduce its mass and volume, as well as neutralize it. Such processing of solid waste may be accompanied by the production of inert materials and energy carriers.

Advantages of thermal processing:

• Efficiency in terms of neutralization (destroys pathogenic microflora).
• Significantly reduces the volume of garbage (up to ten times).
• Using the energy potential of organic waste.

The most common method of thermal processing of solid waste is combustion. This simple method has many advantages:

• It has been tested many times.
• Combustion equipment is available and mass-produced and has a long service life.
• An automated process that does not require the involvement of labor resources.

If previously garbage was simply burned, modern technologies make it possible to use this process more efficiently, simultaneously extracting the fuel fraction from it. As a result of such techniques, the incineration procedure turns into not just the elimination of waste, but also the production of additional energy - electrical or thermal. The most promising technology at the moment is plasma combustion technology, which provides a higher combustion temperature. As a result, useful energy is released, and the remainder is a completely harmless vitrified product.

Method 4.Plasma waste processing (MSW).

Recycling of solid waste using the plasma method is a process of converting waste into gas. This gas is subsequently used to produce steam and electricity. Non-pyrolyzable solid waste residues are one of the elements of plasma processing.

The advantage of high-temperature pyrolysis is that this process destroys a wide variety of waste without any preliminary preparation, without harming the environment. From an economic point of view, this is a very profitable technology, since there is no need for additional costs for drying, sorting and other procedures for preparing waste for disposal.

The output is slag, which does not harm the environment and can even be reused.

What equipment is used for processing solid waste?

The industrial world does not stand still; more and more equipment and waste disposal plants are becoming available. The most common types of equipment for such enterprises include:

1. Presses.

It is impossible to imagine any solid waste recycling and recycling plant without waste compaction. After compaction, the waste is more convenient to store and transport. Presses can have different dimensions: from the most gigantic to relatively small ones that can fit in the territory of a regular store. In Russia, two types of presses are used:

• Baling presses.
• Briquetting presses.

According to the method of loading the press there are:

• Vertical (front loading).
• Horizontal (able to compress debris more tightly).

If the dimensions of vertical presses are quite compact, then horizontal ones are usually installed only in large factories, since they are difficult to fit in a regular room.

According to their purpose, presses can be universal (for all types of waste) or specialized (for only one type).

2. Compactors.

Compactors are considered very close to presses. As the name suggests, they also make the garbage more compressed. This type of equipment mainly uses PET bottles, polyethylene films, aluminum cans, as well as paper and cardboard. For shopping malls, this type of equipment is indispensable, because there is always a need to compress large amounts of garbage.

Waste hauling companies unanimously claim that transportation and storage costs are significantly reduced by compacting waste using compactors. In this case, it does not matter at all whether the compactor is mobile or stationary.

Stationary and mobile equipment have their pros and cons. If mobile compactors are monoblocks, then stationary compactors contain a press and a replaceable container, which allows you to load much more waste than into a single monoblock. The continuous cycle of operation also significantly distinguishes the stationary compactor from other recycling equipment. Just have time to change containers.

But the mobile compactor can be used in different places, and it does not need to be mounted and dismantled again each time. This is a hermetically sealed design, which allows it to work even with wet waste.

3. Shredders.

Shredders have a completely different type of operation than presses and compactors. They help in waste disposal by shredding or crushing it. This is why Russian-speaking users call shredders crushers. Not a single solid waste processing plant can do without them. Shredders are designed for shredding:

• glass;
• wood;
• plastics;
• paper;
• rubber;
• metal;
• organic and mixed waste;
• hazardous substances.

Some shredders only work with one type of waste, such as glass. But there are also many models that are designed for shredding a wide variety of waste.

4. Containers.

We encounter this type of equipment every day. These are our usual garbage containers that we use regularly. The material from which containers are made is usually plastic, although metal is sometimes found. Containers can be used for separate waste storage or for mixed waste. Not so long ago, containers were stationary, but now we increasingly see containers on wheels. Containers equipped with wheels make it more convenient to transfer garbage to garbage trucks.

5. Sorting lines.

It is much easier and more efficient to process solid waste in sorted form. As we have already said, different types of waste have their own disposal methods, and that is why it is so important to first separate one type of waste from others. For this purpose, waste sorting lines are now mandatory at waste processing plants. Sorting lines are designed to separate municipal solid waste into fractions for the purpose of their subsequent pressing, compaction and transformation into secondary raw materials, which can then be sold. Sorting lines have become an integral part of the waste recycling process.

How is a solid waste processing plant equipped?

The set of equipment for any plant is selected taking into account its specialization. There are wide-ranging enterprises that process various types of solid waste. But small plants usually deal only with a specific type of waste. This can be construction waste, tires and other rubber products, household waste, etc.

It is safest to invest in functional and powerful equipment that can serve a large area, working without interruptions or breakdowns.

An example of such a complex is the waste incineration mini-plant MPZ-5000 (manufactured by Sifania (Russia)). It is designed to process huge amounts of solid household waste; for example, it will cope perfectly with five thousand tons of garbage per year. A mini-plant involves a set of equipment for burning waste. The example we are considering is suitable for serving a small area with a population of about 25 thousand people. The equipment set includes not only a waste incineration machine, but also units for:

• waste sorting;
• shredding plastic bottles;
• waste paper compaction;
• pyrolysis of non-degradable materials.

The cost of the equipment is quite high. Its simplest standard configuration will cost the enterprise ten million rubles.

But this example is suitable for a small-scale organization. For larger production, you can purchase a sorting station capable of passing up to ten tons per hour. The productivity of such equipment is much higher than that of a mini-factory. This station is capable of separating 16 types of solid waste from a mixed stream. Maintenance of the station requires at least 40 people. A good option for such equipment is the JSSORT complex. It has impressive dimensions. To install the entire station, an area 40 meters wide and 80 meters long will be required. Such equipment is capable of servicing about 15 garbage trucks in one eight-hour working day.

Such a complex of equipment will cost three times more than a mini-plant. Its cost is about 30 million rubles. This includes the cost of constructing suitable premises for the station.

A very profitable option for making money from waste disposal is a plant for processing rubber products (car tires) into small crumbs. After the operation of specialized equipment, only rubber powder remains, crushed into granules, which is ideal for recycling.

It is in demand in production:

• asphalt;
• road speed limiters;
• materials for sound insulation;
• mastics with anti-corrosion properties and other products of the construction industry.

A set of equipment for rubber processing is capable of processing up to three tons of waste per hour. An imported mini-plant of this type costs about 25 million rubles.

It should be noted that all processing enterprises have approximately a similar set of components. The differences lie mainly in the degree of their power and the level of automation of the process. The solid waste processing plant includes the following equipment:

• receiving conveyor;
• inclined belt conveyor;
• sorting line;
• packaging press machine;
• pyrolysis unit;
• plastic shredder;
• glass container.

Sometimes this set is complemented by a receiving workshop with magnetic equipment for separating scrap metal.

Let's consider the operation scheme of a mini-plant for processing solid waste:

• First of all, the waste stream goes through a magnetic receiver to sort the metal;
• a vertical conveyor transports raw materials to the sorting line;
• sorting complexes can be automated and separate waste using optical devices or semi-automated and use manual labor;
• all waste paper is sorted and sent for packaging;
• plastic products fall into the shredding device;
• glass waste is sent to a collection container;
• all other waste goes into a receiving hopper, from where it subsequently goes to the press for compaction. The further fate of such waste is burial.

If recyclables are packaged, they can be sold or processed, depending on which direction is provided by the plant itself. For example, one of the divisions of the enterprise may be a workshop for the production of toilet paper.

The main problems of solid waste processing

Problem 1.Lack of funds.

Currently, waste is removed mainly at the expense of the population. But the tariffs for the disposal of household waste established by regulations are prohibitively low. So much so that they are not able to compensate for the costs of even transporting garbage, not to mention its processing and disposal.

Of course, the funds collected from the population are not enough, so the rest of the resources are allocated by the state. But for unknown reasons, housing and communal services never have the opportunity to develop and modernize the waste disposal system. We still do not have separate collections, as is customary throughout Europe. And on the material level there is no stimulation for sorting. If you dump all the garbage into one container or separate the waste by type, you still pay the same tariff for recycling solid waste.

Problem 2.Of secondary importance.

Solid waste processing is currently carried out by organizations whose main activity is the provision of various public services.

Only if specialized enterprises undertake waste collection and processing will they be able to plan for more efficient waste collection, improve the equipment used, and optimize income and costs for solid waste processing.

Problem 3.Lack of responsible persons.

All activities related to the disposal of household waste are dispersed across various departments. A unified structure of hierarchy and responsibility in this matter has not been built. In European countries everything is different. There, the issue of household waste management is controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency. In our country there is a similar government agency - the Ministry of Natural Resources, however, the issue of solid waste processing has not been transferred to the jurisdiction of this body.

As a result, existing ministries and departments deal with this area to varying degrees, but shift responsibility to each other, and the process of issuing bills in this area is delayed due to the lengthy approval procedure.

Problem 4.Concentration in the hands of government agencies.

Government agencies zealously hold on to the recycling of solid waste, although, as we have seen, they do not have enough funds, desire and understanding to organize the process at the proper level. European states are showing the effectiveness of involving private companies in this issue. In Europe, organizations have long been cooperating with municipalities in matters of waste collection and disposal. Perhaps someday in the future our authorities will reach a similar level of cooperation, but for now landfills are piling up and continue to poison the environment.

Foreign experience shows that private companies are very enthusiastic about solving this problem, since it is directly related to commercial benefits. So, they are looking for the most effective and economical ways to process solid waste. By building large factories and attracting foreign investment, commercial organizations work with great efficiency, and the results of their activities are obvious.

Problem 5.There is no work with the population.

The fact that the population practically does not understand the advantages of separate waste collection is a sad flaw in the domestic management of this issue. After all, if you inform citizens about the problems of solid waste processing, their awareness and desire to correct the situation may increase, including on their own. After all, this planet is our home, where we live and plan to inhabit it for a long time.

Problem 6.Lack of fixtures.

The abundance of data in the public domain allows many conscious citizens, despite the lack of centralized information, to come to an understanding of the problem of waste disposal. But even if people have a desire to throw garbage into separate containers, they are not given such an opportunity. The only equipment for collecting waste is an ordinary garbage chute. There is only one way out of the situation: seal all existing garbage chutes and set up a waste sorting system.

It is more expedient to design new houses without garbage chutes, since in general this will not only provide the possibility of separate waste collection, but will also increase cleanliness in the entrances.

Problem 7.Recycling of recyclable materials is not organized.

In Russia there are organizations that are engaged in the processing of solid waste. There are not as many of them as we would like, but even these units often have problems with the disposal of secondary raw materials. And this is sad, because in fact, using scrap can provide significant economic benefits.

Motivating the use of recyclable materials in production is again a state task. Moreover, we are talking not only about establishing obligations for enterprises, but also about developing a system of rewards, benefits, incentives that could encourage business representatives to establish markets for the sale of scrap and its use.

Thus, when carrying out public procurement in European countries, benefits are often provided for organizations producing products from recycled materials.

Problem 8.Lack of planning.

To ensure that solid waste recycling and the use of recyclable materials do not become local and episodic phenomena, it is necessary to draw up detailed plans aimed at achieving the desired results. Thus, this waste management plan should cover a long period during which the necessary activities are envisaged, as well as the timing of their implementation, sources of financing, goals and persons responsible for the implementation of such actions.

All of the above problems actually arise due to the same factor: the task of competent processing of solid waste is not a priority at the state level. In addition, we have not yet come to the realization of making the most efficient use of available resources. Therefore, environmental issues have not yet been resolved, and an effective waste disposal system has not been built.

What are the prospects for recycling solid waste in Russia?

In Russia, the idea of ​​rational use of waste has not yet been developed. Recently, this area has received a little more attention. But only a little. A number of waste processing enterprises have been created in our country, but their operation has not yet been put on a wide scale. The process has not been established; there is no competent interaction between such organizations and the state. In general, so far such companies operate mainly in the central regions of the country - Moscow, St. Petersburg. But ideally, such activities should be carried out everywhere.

The fact is that in large cities there are much more earning opportunities for waste recycling enterprises. The waste disposal business is very profitable where there is an abundance of it, and there is a catastrophic lack of areas for storing and slowly destroying waste. Not so on the periphery. Most often, waste is transported to lands that are located on the outskirts of cities and towns. This method is harmful to the environment and is also economically unprofitable. While recycling ordinary household waste is a profitable business, and at this time in the domestic economy this niche is free.

Let us note that until municipalities begin to perceive this problem as urgent, it is unlikely that anything will change radically. Foreign experience shows that a significant part of waste disposal issues can be resolved by a simple action - installing containers for separate waste collection. This step will greatly simplify the recycling of solid waste.

A criticism of this assumption is the judgment about the inertia and laziness of Russians, who will not want to sort their waste at home. But public opinion polls do not confirm this idea. For example, half of Moscow residents are already ready for separate waste collection. And this is without any propaganda and work with the population on the part of those in power. It is not difficult to guess that, subject to government action in this direction, a quick and effective transition to modern technologies for waste processing and the use of secondary raw materials is possible in our country.

Expert opinion

Solving the problems of solid waste processing using integrated management

L.Ya. Shubov,

Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, member of the Russian community of experts on rational environmental management

HE. Borisova,

Ph.D., Associate Professor, RGUTiS

I.G. Doronkina,

Ph.D., Associate Professor, RGUTiS

Solid waste recycling management consists of the following elements:

• garbage collection;
• export;
• processing (preliminary preparation);
• actual processing;
• disposal;
• burial.

All these components are connected into a single system and are connected to each other.

To ensure solutions to the problems of solid waste processing, it is necessary to be guided by modern requirements for resource conservation and environmental management:

• recycling of waste as sources of raw materials and energy;
• reducing the cost of cleaning settlements;
• transition from the method of solid waste disposal to industrial recycling;
• ensuring environmental safety.

Transformations are not so easy to achieve, because they are associated not only with establishing an effective system for garbage collection and recycling, but also with improving the sanitary and hygienic condition of the city, and this is already a matter of reforming the housing and communal services. At the moment, there are a number of tasks, not least of which are the creation of a service market and the development of competition in the field of solid waste processing. Introducing all these innovations is not so easy.

At the moment, there is a serious shortage of specialists in the processing of solid waste. Universities annually issue diplomas to general ecologists who do not yet possess technologies for the effective processing of technogenic raw materials; it is difficult for them to immediately find a solution to the problem of solid waste.

Some foreign organizations are rushing into the Russian market, offering a way out of the difficult situation with solid waste using advanced technologies. But often we are talking only about burning garbage. There is still no well-thought-out waste disposal system. At best, industrial facilities appear chaotically, dealing with only one technology in a set of measures necessary for the systematic destruction of waste. This is a road to nowhere.

It is impossible to solve the problem of recycling solid waste by constructing waste incineration plants. While one is being built, the other is finishing its life cycle. Therefore, haphazard construction has already proven its ineffectiveness. In this direction, one cannot rely on one single processing method - combustion.

Practice shows that such a policy does not lead to a solution to the problem, but only contributes to increased pollution of the environment.

It is necessary to follow the example of European countries. Here's what they've achieved so far in terms of solid waste management:

• We have developed a recycling industry based on the separate collection of waste, separating usable elements.
• We have organized and continue to develop a system of specialized sorting plants, thermal and biothermal waste processing enterprises.
• We have developed a system for recycling recyclable materials.

Burning all the garbage is simply unacceptable. The fraction of waste that has already been freed from both hazardous and resource-valuable components is used for thermal processing. Such production can be called environmentally friendly.

In our country, all solid waste processing points are built haphazardly, without communication with each other. The entire waste stream is sent there without prior sorting. Such actions create the threat of an emergency.

If the issue of solid waste is resolved, the problem of environmental safety of the country as a whole will be partially resolved.

There is an urgent need to build a solid waste processing system for the Moscow region and the cities of the resort area. Until government policy on this issue is normalized, crime and corruption will continue to flourish. That is why the development of a scientifically based solid waste recycling strategy is task No. 1.

A strategy for optimizing integrated solid waste management is needed, first of all, to create an advanced effective waste management system and the use of secondary raw materials. The goal of such a program is to develop ways to introduce waste into industrial processing, plan a sequence of actions to massively reduce the flow of waste that is currently going to landfill, and reduce environmental risks and waste disposal costs. The strategy should look like a solid document with understandable and clear terminology, containing a real model for optimizing the use of waste.

Removal, processing and disposal of waste from hazard classes 1 to 5

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Humanity is seriously faced with the problem of waste disposal, so more and more advanced waste disposal methods are being developed all over the world.

“Recycling” is such a fashionable foreign word now. Unfortunately, it has not yet gained the desired popularity in our country. In developed countries, resource conservation is an important motivation for recycling waste.

Special landfills and engineering landfills for waste disposal have a limited area; in addition, they occupy useful land and harm the environment around them. The problem is not solved by removing waste from waste incineration plants. They help reduce waste volumes, but cause no less harm to the environment, poisoning the air with toxic gases.

The latest efforts of scientists are aimed at developing new schemes for waste disposal, and to introduce new processing technologies by type, hazard class and source of origin. This approach is most effective from the point of view of environmental protection and rational consumption of exhaustible natural resources. The importance of proper waste recycling also has an economic component - it contains useful components, the secondary production of which is much cheaper than primary extraction and processing.

Garbage classification

Types of waste by source of origin

• Household
• Organic origin
• Industrial production
• Medical
• Radioactive waste

Types of waste by state of aggregation

• Solid
• Liquid
• Pastes
• Suspensions
• Emulsions
• Bulk

There are 5 waste hazard classes in total:

• Excavations that belong to the first hazard class pose a threat to all life on earth. Even in small quantities they can lead to death, disability, and the birth of sick offspring. Substances such as mercury, polonium, plutonium, and lead can cause a serious environmental disaster.
• The second and third hazard classes combine garbage, which can cause a disturbance in the ecological balance, and its restoration will take decades. These include chromium, zinc, phosphorus and chlorine compounds, and arsenic.
• Low-hazardous substances of the fourth hazard class also affect the human body and living beings. The ecosystem after their impact is restored within 3 years.
• There is a fifth class - environmentally friendly waste, but even in large quantities it can cause damage to the surrounding area.

The variety of waste disposal leads to the need to create progressive methods for primary waste sorting.

Methods for processing household waste

The most significant part of the waste on earth is solid waste. Their source is residential areas and social facilities. As the world's population grows, so does the volume of solid waste. Currently, the following types of recycling are in effect:

• Burial at landfills
• Natural decomposition in the natural environment
• Thermal processing
• Isolation of useful components and recycling

Burial

Looking at all the existing methods of waste disposal, burial is the most common method. It is only suitable for waste that is not susceptible to spontaneous combustion. Conventional landfills are giving way to landfills equipped with a system of engineering structures that prevent contamination of surface and underground waters, atmospheric air, and agricultural lands. In developed countries, gas traps formed during the decomposition process are installed at landfills. It is used to generate electricity, space heating and water heating. In Russia, unfortunately, there are a very small number of engineering landfills for disposal.

Most of the waste consists of various organic residues; they quickly rot in the natural environment. In many countries around the world, household waste is sorted into fractions, their organic part is composted and valuable fertilizer is obtained. In Russia, it is customary to compost the unseparated stream of solid waste, so it is impossible to use rotted organic matter as fertilizer.

Thermal processing

Thermal processing means the following methods:

• Burning
• Pyrolysis at low combustion temperatures
• Plasma treatment (high temperature pyrolysis)

The thermal processing process allows you to completely destroy harmful components, significantly reduce their amount in burial sites, and convert combustion energy into heat and electricity.

Simply burning waste is a cheap way of disposal. In this area, proven waste processing methods are practiced, serial equipment is produced, and a high level of automation puts the process in a continuous flow. However, combustion produces a large number of harmful gases that have toxic and carcinogenic properties. Gradually the world is switching to pyrolysis.

The most effective is high-temperature pyrolysis - plasma treatment. Its advantages:

• No need to sort leftovers
• Generating steam and electricity
• Obtaining a liquid residue - pyrolysis oil
• The output is harmless vitrified slag, which can be used in secondary production.
• Environmental safety for the environment and human health

Plasma waste disposal methods eliminate the need to create new landfills and landfills, and the economic benefits are expressed in millions in profit.

In recent years, waste recovery has begun to actively develop, i.e. recycling. Garbage contains many useful components that can be reused to synthesize new materials and produce various goods.

The waste is sorted:

• Ferrous, non-ferrous and precious metals
• Broken glass
• Paper and cardboard
• Polymer packaging
• Rubber
• Remains of wood
• Leftover food, products with expired expiration dates

The development of recycling in Russia is hampered by the lack of an established waste sorting system. In developed countries, containers for various types of household waste are installed in courtyards, and a culture of waste management is fostered from childhood. In our country there are collection points for metals, paper, and polymer products, but they cannot seriously stimulate the opening of new recycling industries. A gradual transition to low-waste and resource-saving production is also desirable.

Industrial waste disposal

Industrial waste includes:

• Remains of raw materials and materials used in production
• By-products of production - garbage, liquids, gases
• Substandard and defective products
• Out-of-service machinery and equipment

Theoretically, any useful component from production waste can be reused. The issue depends on the availability of effective technologies and the economic feasibility of processing. That is why secondary raw materials and irrecoverable waste are distinguished among industrial waste. Depending on the category, different waste processing technologies are used.

Irrevocable waste, where there are no useful components, is disposed of in landfills and incinerated. Before burial, industrial waste, which contains toxic, chemically active and radiation substances, must be neutralized. For this purpose, specially equipped drives are used.

The following are subject to centralized collection and disposal:

• Toxic waste containing mercury, arsenic, lead, zinc, tin, cadmium, nickel, antimony
• Electroplating waste
• Organic varnishes, paints, solvents
• Petroleum products
• Mercury containing waste
• Waste that contains radiation components

Storage tanks are placed in open areas or in underground structures on the territory of enterprises or beyond. For solid waste, tailing and sludge ponds are built, dumps and waste heaps are arranged for waste rock, ash, and slag. Liquid waste is disposed of in ponds, settling tanks and burial grounds. After neutralization, hazardous industrial waste is buried in separate approved landfills.

All industrial enterprises are included in the list of natural resource users. In this regard, they must comply with the requirements, rules and regulations for waste management, as well as safety precautions, so as not to harm the environment.

The state is trying to encourage manufacturers to introduce low-waste technologies and convert waste into secondary raw materials. So far in Russia this direction is developing poorly.

The main methods of recycling industrial waste:

1. Separation of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, industrial alloys, such as pobeda for the purpose of secondary smelting.
2. The process of producing granulates from polymer waste, which is used in the production of the same type of polymers or materials with different properties.
3. Crushing rubber for use as fillers, production of building materials.
4. Use of wood waste and shavings for the production of finishing boards and paper.
5. Obtaining electric current and heat from combustible waste.

The problem of recycling industrial waste is very relevant for Russia, where extractive industries, metallurgy, and petrochemicals are developed, generating a large volume of waste and by-products.

Medical waste disposal methods

Medical waste is a special category. They are formed by medical institutions, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical factories. Approximately 80% consists of ordinary household waste, but the rest can cause harm to the life and health of many people.

Hazardous medical waste includes:

• All items that were in contact with patients with dangerous and especially dangerous diseases.
• Residues of medicines, disinfectant liquids.
• Remains of equipment that uses mercury salts and radioactive elements.
• Organic waste – biomaterial from pathology and anatomical departments, operating rooms, immunoglobulins, vaccines.

In recent decades, the world has switched to using disposable medical instruments made of metal and various types of plastic. Once disinfected, they can be sent for recycling after sorting. This judicious use of raw materials will help conserve a significant portion of resources and reduce the cost of producing disposable instruments and patient care items.

Problems of waste disposal and processing in Russia

The main problems of waste disposal in our country include:

• The presence of many unauthorized landfills.
• Combined waste, for example, mercury lamps, can be disposed of like glass - in the lowest hazard class.
• Placement of spontaneously combustible waste in a landfill.
• Modern methods of waste disposal at waste treatment plants are too expensive; disposal at landfills is much cheaper.
• Weakness of the legislative framework and economic incentives for recycling enterprises. The standard is waste disposal at the enterprise.
• Lack of infrastructure and established waste sorting process.

The need to preserve a healthy ecological environment will force government agencies to adopt the experience of developed countries. They will be faced with the need to effectively solve the problems of disposal and processing of waste of various categories, as well as switch to environmentally friendly production technologies.

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In the context of modern growth of industry and urban population, the problem of waste disposal is becoming increasingly urgent. Landfills are limited and in short supply. In addition, they have a negative impact on the environment, which already suffers from gas pollution and emissions from large enterprises. Therefore, it is necessary to build waste processing plants far from populated areas, as well as to use modern methods for obtaining recyclable materials and recycling.

Natural waste recycling

In the last century, recycling household waste through composting was popular. To do this, they dug pits and dumped organic waste there and covered it with earth. Through processes of rotting and decomposition, organic fertilizers were formed over time. Not long ago, this method was improved: special heated sealed installations began to be produced. When heated, organic waste decomposes faster, resulting in the formation of biogas (methane), which is used to produce biofuels.

Large companies began to produce mobile stations that are capable of providing processing to private farms and small villages. For large cities, large plants similar in operating principle could be used, but they are unprofitable, since it takes quite a lot of time to decompose, and the resulting fertilizers need to be put somewhere. In addition, such installations are not capable of processing other types of waste that will accumulate. These include construction waste, plastic and polyethylene products, etc. The solution would be to build specialized factories, but this is not economically viable.

Recycling waste by thermal action

Thermal processing is the combustion of municipal solid waste in order to reduce the volume of organic substances, neutralize them and subsequently dispose or dispose of them. In this case, as a result of combustion, the initial volumes are reduced several times, all bacteria are destroyed, and the released energy can be used to heat water in heating systems or generate electricity. Typically, such factories are located near large landfills where garbage removal from all over the city and there is an opportunity to bury waste from recycling at landfills.

Combustion can be direct or pyrolysis. Direct combustion produces only thermal energy, while pyrolysis produces two types of fuel: gas and liquid. Both methods have a significant drawback - during combustion, harmful substances are released into the atmosphere, which causes significant harm to the environment. Even installing filters to retain solid volatile substances does not fundamentally change the situation for the better.

Plasma waste processing

Plasma recycling is currently the most modern method of waste disposal. The essence of the process is as follows:

• The waste is crushed, compressed and, if necessary, dried to obtain a granular structure;
• The granules are placed in a special reactor, where the required amount of energy is transferred to them using a plasma jet, and they turn into a gaseous state.

To prevent combustion, an oxidizer is introduced into the chamber. The result is a gas similar to natural gas, but with less energy content. It is collected in large sealed containers for subsequent processing and use as fuel for diesel generators, boilers, and gas turbines.

This method of waste disposal has long been used in the USA and Canada. They have learned not only to recycle waste, but also to effectively use the by-product - gas as fuel. All conditions have already been created for this in the West, but in the post-Soviet space the new technology has not become widespread due to expensive equipment and high requirements for the qualifications of operating personnel.

Conclusion

New waste processing technologies require financial investments and interest at the state level. But as long as there are factories with outdated equipment, and they cope with the volumes, no one will build a modern plant, or until an environmental disaster occurs.

Thursday, 16 April 2015 4:55

romario

Waste disposal is perhaps the main problem of modern humanity. Every day we produce so much garbage that it would be enough for an entire city of the past.

The environmental situation is so acute that scientists are literally shouting about the need to take control of this area of ​​human activity.

Unfortunately, current waste disposal methods are often not effective and do not result in the expected effect - a clean environment.

However, according to experts, improvements are being observed in this area. At the same time, today, ordinary people are beginning to understand the need to sort and recycle waste so that in the future their descendants do not drown in garbage.

Residents of civilized European countries have been accustomed since childhood to sort and throw away garbage exclusively in designated areas.

A significant advantage of this behavior is the regular recycling and reuse of waste that has already been used once.

Unfortunately, in our country such benefits of civilization are just emerging. Sorting waste and its further processing is rather an exception to the rule than the norm.

If you live in a suburban village and it is customary for you to sort your garbage by type and throw it into separate bins, you are a happy person.

You can also organize the recycling of existing waste yourself by using several garbage cans for waste of different types.

By organizing the removal of food waste and other garbage, you are helping to prevent an environmental disaster that has been looming for a long time.

Try starting small. On average, one house in an average-budget cottage community produces a large bag of garbage per day.

All garbage ends up in a landfill, where, at best, it is recycled, and at worst, it is left to further decompose on its own.

Waste disposal methods today

There are several methods of waste disposal that are successfully used here in Russia.

• Garbage disposal.
• Burning garbage.
• Composting.
• Low-temperature and high-temperature pyrolysis.

Around each of the listed methods, there is debate about its effectiveness, efficiency and speed of work.

The oldest method of getting rid of household and food waste is burying it. It is also the most dangerous and ineffective.

Even food waste buried in a quarry or pit can accumulate huge amounts of decomposition and rotting products, which can cause poisoning of groundwater or air.

What can we say about solid waste, the disposal of which by other means leads to the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere. Special landfills are equipped for the disposal of hazardous waste.

They, as people believe, are able to protect against the release of toxic substances into the soil, water and air that can poison all living things within a radius of several kilometers.

However, time proves the ineffectiveness of this method of disposal and even its danger.

Another disposal method that is not widely used in our country is composting. It is found in private households when disposing of food waste, but is much less commonly used in mass waste recycling.

However, composting is an effective method of recycling, resulting in compost that can be used in agriculture.

Compost can be created from either pure food waste or from unsegregated waste streams. If you do such processing centrally, you can get good results.

If we talk about effectively reducing waste volumes, then heat treatment is most effective here. It allows you to neutralize most of the waste, while reducing its volume significantly.

Modern recycling by incineration also involves the use of combustion energy. This trend is spreading more and more, giving new opportunities in the future.

Burning waste to produce heat and electricity is a method that can turn landfills into a source of energy for the operation of central heating systems and various industries.

One step above this method is plasma waste processing - a phenomenon in our country that is so rare that it is hard to believe in it.

Plasma recycling is waste recycling that results in gas from organic compounds and slag from solid waste.

Energy processed in this way can be used for peaceful purposes, which is what happens in more developed countries in this regard.

If recycling your individual waste is important to you, try to find an organization in your area that sorts and recycles waste.

In this case, the most that is required of you is to independently sort the waste into separate containers and order regular waste collection.