Industrial Waste

Industrial waste could simply be stated as useless and rejected material from all industries in the country. Ever since the rise of the Industrial Revolution, industries have been growing every day. However, along with the industries, the amount of waste from industrial processes has also increased.

Today, waste disposal has become a matter of concern owing to the rise in the level of pollution. Therefore, we need to understand what industrial wastes are and study how they can be managed effectively.

Definition

Industrial wastes are the wastes produced during the manufacturing processes in any industry. It includes ‌leftover materials, which are considered useless for any other activity. It can be a large amount of harmful waste, or it can be less in quantity and safe for all. It varies from industry to industry as per the resources used to manufacture the product produced.

Types of Industrial Wastes (on the ‌basis of their nature)

Industrial wastes cause great damage to the environment, but all industries do not generate the same kind of waste. Depending on whether it will break down and get dissolved in the environment, ‌waste can be divided into two groups:

Biodegradable Waste:

• These are wastes that can decompose naturally in the environment
• The microorganisms present in the environment can feed over it and therefore break it down and mix it with the soil
• This waste can further be used as manure and fertilizer for the soil in agriculture
• These wastes do not cause any pollution in the environment
• Example – Fruit and vegetable leftovers, plants and animal remains, stale food

Non-Biodegradable Waste:

• These are the wastes that do not decompose in the environment
•  These substances are usually man-made and cannot be broken down into simple substances
• They do not degrade easily or by the ‌action of any natural agent
•  They cause pollution and are harmful to all living beings
•  Example – Polythene, Pen Refills, Glass objects, Synthetic fibres

Types of Industrial Wastes (on the basis of the raw material used)

With the advancement in technology, the amount of production has also increased, and so has the amount of waste. Every manufacturing industry uses different kinds of raw materials to produce its final product. Therefore, the waste generated by them can be categorized as:

1.  Solid Waste – The waste discarded by the industries in solid form is known as solid waste. This solid waste is not required by ‌industries anymore. But it can be recycled by other industries and used as raw materials for creating their products.

 Example: Paper, Plastic, cardboard, scraping metal, etc. 

2. Liquid Waste – The leftover liquid after processing the raw material is called liquid waste. Industrial water waste is immersed into‌ natural water bodies, making them unfit for consumption. Thus, industrial water waste contaminates the water, leading to water pollution.

 Example: Toxic fluids, detergents, radioactive materials, stale water, etc.

3. Chemical Waste – Industrial waste that consists of a certain amount of chemicals is called Chemical waste. This chemical waste is quite hazardous to discard and is supposed to be handled by special facilities.

Example: Corrosives, Toxins, Inflammables, Explosive wastes, etc.

Industrial Waste Management

Uncontrolled disposal of industrial waste leads to environmental pollution and irreparable damage. The soil, water, and air near industrial waste dump sites are regarded to be very harmful to animals and humans. However, the disposition of these wastes in the right way will prevent such occurrences and protect the environment.

The industrial waste management system works according to the following steps:

1.       Analysis – The waste is analysed and segregated.
2.       Collection – The segregated waste is then collected from the factory.
3.       Transportation – This waste is then transported to the waste processor.
4.       Recycling/ Disposal – These wastes are then recycled or disposed of accordingly.

Industrial Waste Treatment

1. Breaking the waste down– Here, the waste is broken down into small particles by using an environment-friendly method. This environment-friendly method is performed by the usage of microorganisms in it, which break down the waste without causing a hazard to land. 
2. Burning the waste – Some waste products can be melted into new materials for use. This method helps discard the waste completely and produce new material from it.
3. Harnessing the harmful gas- Here, industrial waste, which is in the form of harmful gas, is collected and used to generate fuel and electrical energy. This fuel and electrical energy can be used for commercial and domestic purposes.
4. Reclamation of waste– Industrial waste may have some sub-products in them, which can be recovered and used for other substances. Example- Mercury can be used in thermometers or batteries.
5. Water Treatment – Small natural resources such as lakes, ponds, and rivers can be cleaned and made drinkable by performing a water treatment program. This cleans the water and maintains the pH level.

Conclusion

Industrial wastes are the wastes produced during an industrial process. These are basically the leftover materials from the industrial process. These vary from industry to industry as per the resources used to manufacture the product. The wastes from the industries can be of different types. They can either be completely decomposed without causing any danger to the environment or cannot be recycled at all. Uncontrolled disposal of industrial waste leads to environmental pollution. The waste management system can help in reducing pollution caused by industrial wastes.