Hazardous Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

Introduction

This five-day course will introduce delegates to the whole concept of managing hazardous wastes which will include their generation, storage, collection, processing, treatment, transportation and disposal. All waste-related definitions will be provided and recycling and other methodologies of minimizing waste generation will be included in the course. It will also provide general guidelines for operating a waste management system and a disposal site based on international experiences. The various pollution prevention strategies currently utilized by many industries together with some generic governmental legislation will also be included. The economic side of minimizing and preventing pollution by industry and the associated tangible rewards will be discussed together with the role that each person has to play in the big picture. Also included will be the role of the United Nations via the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and International Environment Related Treaties

Objectives

By the end of this course participants will:

• Learn how to recognize the importance of environmental values in decision making
• Learn how to avoid serious and irreversible damage to the environment
• Learn some of the current common pollution prevention techniques being used by industry today
• Encourage dialogue with like-minded individuals on specific issues of concern in their organizations and the opportunity to develop regional networks to address common issues
• Encourage the buy green concept or the use of more environmentally friendly products
• Assist the participants in obtaining a better appreciation of Agenda 21 and its inter-relationship amongst all the countries of the world
• Show and emphasize the close relationship between human health and safety and the environment
• Methodologies for the cleanup of contaminated land and the various parameters involved
• That each participant will know how to obtain environmental performance improvement

Target Audience

• Health and Safety and Environmental Professionals
• Staff responsible for managing hazardous wastes
• Laboratory Technicians
• Staff wishing to reduce risk and liability arising from polluting events
• Technical assistants and anyone who has a role to play in environmental matters of the Organization

Occupational Health and Safety Outline

The course covers the following topics:

Brief History of the Environmental Movement and Introduction to Hazardous Waste

• Global Environmental Issues
• International Environmental Treaties and Legislation
• Environmental Awareness and Due Diligence
• Definition of Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Wastes
• The Hazardous Waste Management Industry

Management of Industrial Hazardous Waste

• Introduction to (Environmental Management System) and what it can and cannot do
• Some typical Hazardous Waste Regulations and the need for harmonization
• Life Cycle Management of Hazardous Wastes
• The importance of documentation in hazardous waste management

Pollution Prevention

Discussions on sources of pollution and techniques and technologies for pollution prevention

• Exploration and Production , Refining and Transportation- origins of pollution
• The toxic 12 chemicals- Stockholm Convention and the role of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program)
• The common thread amongst many third world countries concerning pollution issues

Consideration for major incidents, contingency planning and recommended corrective actions

• Discussion of some major preventable accidents
• The importance of on-going training and simulated accidents
• The importance of regular review of emergency plans

Big Picture Review of Hazardous Waste Management and Pollution Prevention

• Case studies to develop the concept and to re-emphasize the importance of the environmental component in job planning