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The most important thermal, chemical, physical, and biological methods for treating hazardous wastes and the fate of their land-disposed residues are reviewed and evaluated. Technologies are described as major, minor, and emerging according to their stage of development or application to hazardous waste; major ones include rotary kiln, liquid injection, and cement kiln incineration; neutralization, chemical oxidation-reduction, and ion exchange; filtration, distillation and settling techniques; and activated sludge, aerated lagoon, and landfarming treatment. Emerging technologies include molten salt and fluidized- bed combustion, liquid-ion extraction and other processes, none of which are considered to be outside the realm of current or future economic feasibility. In addition, waste reduction strategies and the land burial of stabilized/solidified wastes are discussed. Residues from these technologies vary widely according to waste type and composition, but a common component in many of them is heavy metals, which, as elements, cannot be further degraded to other products. The results of the available literature suggests that these metals will be retained in clay liners beneath a landfill through the mechanism of cation exchange, with the adsorption of metals favored by their smaller hydrated size, lower heat of hydration, and in some cases, higher valences than the naturally occurring alkali earth metals. Other important factors include ionic activity, the pH and ionic strength of the solution, the presence of complexing agents, and the possible surface heterogeneity of the clay. In soils, metal binding through cation exchange with clay is augmented by adsorption onto iron and manganese oxides and complexing with organic matter such as humic acids. Many field studies with landfarmed metal-bearing wastes show that these mechanisms are usually sufficient to retain metals to within several inches of their zone of application. / M.S.

[Integrative executive summary] NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd manufactures and distributes Chlor alkali products such as chlorine, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda flakes, etc. and in the process generates both hazardous and general waste. Following changes in South African waste management legislation in 2011, the organisation’s waste service provider had to increase the costs associated with the handling of site’s hazardous waste. Top management of NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd requested a meeting with the waste service provider in order to establish the reasons behind the price increase. In that meeting, which the researcher attended, the waste service provider explained the changes in waste legislation and how it was going to impact on their business. Top management understood the reasons behind the price increase; however, they requested the waste service provider to review the price increase. The waste service provider gave the top management of NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd assurance that they were going to discuss the price reduction request with their own senior management and would provide feedback. The researcher did not participate in the feedback meetings; however, to this day, NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd still uses the services of the same waste service provider. The effect the escalating annual waste handling costs has had on NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd’s management team led to the study. Environmental impacts have costs that directly impact on company’s bottom line, such as the costs associated with the generation of waste. Although environmental costs are only one of the many costs incurred by businesses, they deserve management’s attention. According to Jasch (2003), there is an apparent lack of awareness and understanding of the magnitude of the environmental costs generated by organisations, and many opportunities for cost savings through good environmental management are lost. However, using a relatively new tool in environmental management, that is, environmental management accounting (EMA), management would ensure that relevant and significant environmental costs are considered when making business decisions (Jasch, 2003). The main purpose of the thesis is to explore the level of awareness of environmental costs associated with hazardous waste within NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd. In order to carry out the study, literature about environmental and cost accounting as well as literature on waste management was reviewed. Questionnaires were distributed to staff members, and meetings were held with different senior personnel. This case study seeks to answer the following questions: What is NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd’s staff members’ level of understanding of waste management? What is the level of awareness of NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd’s staff of environmental costs with regard to the generation, handling, transportation and disposal of hazardous waste? How can the current traditional accounting within the organisation be integrated with environmental management accounting? The findings of the first research objective revealed that staff members knew the site’s waste streams as per the South African legal definition of waste and as identified in the site’s environmental management system documentation. The conceptual approach to waste management is underpinned by the waste hierarchy. The respondents support the waste hierarchy in its approach to waste management, which is prevention of waste, reduction, reuse, recycle and safe disposal of waste as the last resort. Lack of awareness of environmental management, among other things, was cited as the cause of waste. In addition to that, the respondents believe the waste hierarchy can be achieved by employing recycling facilities, following procedures and by carrying out environmental awareness campaigns. Improving process design and control and including changes in raw material was cited, among other things, as the respondents’ perception on how waste can be reduced. The findings of the respondents’ understanding of waste hierarchy revealed that staff members understood waste management. The respondents cited the impacts of waste on the business as financial impact on the business, impact on their bonuses, and possible loss of business. In relation to the second research objective, it was found that staff members knew the hazardous waste streams and identified amongst other waste, sludge and chlorine emissions as NCP Chlorchem (Pty) Ltd’s hazardous waste. However, with regard to environmental management accounting data, an average of 55.1% of respondents were not familiar with the physical and monetary components of EMA. An average of 19.6% of respondents who were aware of EMA might have been senior personnel. It could further be established that those who were familiar with EMA information were actually working with the data, either for reporting purposes, or for employing waste minimisation strategies, as well as awareness purposes, to their juniors. On average, 80% of the respondents perceived the production department as the area within site that has the EMA information.

Any business management process involves a relevant risk management process whereas proper integration of risk management process following the lean guidelines can result in an efficient risk management process. This is a vital advantageous character for successful companies of this era. However, in real world business, many cases have been observed with different types of hidden wastes associated with their risk management process. These wastes act as obstacles to create value for their customer.Hence, the need for an integrated risk management process enabled with a lean perspective is growing in all levels of business and industry. Lean management and risk management process are in close interaction whether we see it or not. There would be two options ahead of organizations. First option is to ignore this mutual relationship between lean management and risk management process and the other option is to try to understand this interaction in detail with a continuous effort to make it more efficient. This conscious approach to the issue can turn into an efficient integration in successful cases. Integration process towards having a lean risk management is a tricky journey that requires proper understanding of the issue among the associated people and smart strategic decision making along with proper tactical knowledge and know-hows. In the current thesis work, we have tried to apply lean philosophy in order to recognize the wastes and non value added activities. This integration process starts with recognizing the context of risk management in a target organization. It is critical to recognize the risk management process steps because it is necessary to analyze the process steps one by one. Importance of following the flow principle of lean philosophy is a must in order to attain to a streamlined progress in the work. Consequently eight typical lean wastes should be identified in the relevant risk management process steps. In order to be able to eliminate the identified non value added activities, lean tools would be applied at this stage of the work. In other words, the root causes to the process wastes would be tracked down with the aim of eliminating or reducing them.Through proper application of lean tools in the integration process, we would get to a level of improved effectiveness and efficiency in our organization. In a comprehensive lean risk management integration strategy, the future state of risk management process would be drawn following lean principles with an eye on extension work for developing the lean risk management policies throughout the supply chain. This lean extension program is a key to catch hidden synergies in risk management process of the whole supply chain. Inbuilt KPIs and process metrics would be the proper provision for enabling the organization be in a state of continuous thrive for perfection.Applications of lean principles make a quick response enterprise with proper level of flexibility which results in an aware personnel attitude in a lean risk management working environment. Mixing the factor of improved internal efficiency with our risk management process, would help us have a better control over our associated risks. The result to this integration work would be a lean organization with continuously growing voracity to make improvements to the status of lean risk management process.

A problemática que envolve os resíduos de serviços de saúde vem ganhando espaço na mídia internacional a partir dos inúmeros acidentes ocorridos envolvendo resíduos desta natureza, como é o caso do incidente ocorrido nas praias de New Jersey e New York, no verão de 1988, ou mesmo o acidente radiativo ocorrido em Goiânia. Tais eventos provocaram grande reação na opinião pública preocupada com sua disposição inadequada, fato agravado com o advento da AIDS e sua rápida proliferação. A estratégia de gerenciamento utilizada para os resíduos perigosos, que segue os resíduos desde sua geração até seu destino final, mostra-se adequada também a resíduos de serviços de saúde. Da mesma forma a segregação na origem e a minimização são possíveis, baseando-se numa caracterização prévia que leve em consideração o risco potencial de infecção e possibilite, mediante uma graduação do risco inerente, uma classificação em distintas categorias. Este trabalho propõe, mediante revisão bibliográfica, levantar as polêmicas e as visões divergentes sobre o tema. Sugere uma proposta de metodologia para caracterização biológica e mostra suas dificuldades de implementação. Apresenta a caracterização destes resíduos como instrumento básico para se efetuar seu gerenciamento, o qual permitirá a minimização dos riscos ocupacionais, sanitários e ambientais devidos a este tipo de resíduos. Finalmente analisa criticamente os distintos trabalhos executados nos países latino-americanos, nos últimos vinte anos, sobre caracterização de resíduos hospitalares, ressaltando a metodologia empregada e os resultados a que chegaram / Medical wastes have been given much space in the international midia, along with several disasters involving these wastes which occurred lately, namely the disaster at New Jersey and New York beaches, in the summer of 1988, or even the one occurred in Goiania, involving radioactive materials. These events brought about the concern of the public opinion with the inadequate disposal of theses wastes, specially when AIDS and its spreading is a reality. The management strategy used for hazardous wastes, which is, to track the waste from its generation to its final disposal, shows also adequate for medical wastes. Segregation at source and minimization also possible based on a previous characterization which includes both the potencial infection hazard and the classification of these wastes into categories of scaled inherent risks. The study presents a survey carried out on international literature to point out the different viewpoints and the controversial aspects of the matter. It suggests a methodology for the biological characterization of the wastes and points out the difficulties in implementing it. It states the characterization of the waste as a mean of providing the management of these wastes, with minimization of occupational, sanitary and environmental hazards. Finally, it critically analyses similar surveys performed in Latin America countries during the last twenty years, about characterization of hospital wastes, emphasizing the adapted methodology and the results obtained

A problemática que envolve os resíduos de serviços de saúde vem ganhando espaço na mídia internacional a partir dos inúmeros acidentes ocorridos envolvendo resíduos desta natureza, como é o caso do incidente ocorrido nas praias de New Jersey e New York, no verão de 1988, ou mesmo o acidente radiativo ocorrido em Goiânia. Tais eventos provocaram grande reação na opinião pública preocupada com sua disposição inadequada, fato agravado com o advento da AIDS e sua rápida proliferação. A estratégia de gerenciamento utilizada para os resíduos perigosos, que segue os resíduos desde sua geração até seu destino final, mostra-se adequada também a resíduos de serviços de saúde. Da mesma forma a segregação na origem e a minimização são possíveis, baseando-se numa caracterização prévia que leve em consideração o risco potencial de infecção e possibilite, mediante uma graduação do risco inerente, uma classificação em distintas categorias. Este trabalho propõe, mediante revisão bibliográfica, levantar as polêmicas e as visões divergentes sobre o tema. Sugere uma proposta de metodologia para caracterização biológica e mostra suas dificuldades de implementação. Apresenta a caracterização destes resíduos como instrumento básico para se efetuar seu gerenciamento, o qual permitirá a minimização dos riscos ocupacionais, sanitários e ambientais devidos a este tipo de resíduos. Finalmente analisa criticamente os distintos trabalhos executados nos países latino-americanos, nos últimos vinte anos, sobre caracterização de resíduos hospitalares, ressaltando a metodologia empregada e os resultados a que chegaram / Medical wastes have been given much space in the international midia, along with several disasters involving these wastes which occurred lately, namely the disaster at New Jersey and New York beaches, in the summer of 1988, or even the one occurred in Goiania, involving radioactive materials. These events brought about the concern of the public opinion with the inadequate disposal of theses wastes, specially when AIDS and its spreading is a reality. The management strategy used for hazardous wastes, which is, to track the waste from its generation to its final disposal, shows also adequate for medical wastes. Segregation at source and minimization also possible based on a previous characterization which includes both the potencial infection hazard and the classification of these wastes into categories of scaled inherent risks. The study presents a survey carried out on international literature to point out the different viewpoints and the controversial aspects of the matter. It suggests a methodology for the biological characterization of the wastes and points out the difficulties in implementing it. It states the characterization of the waste as a mean of providing the management of these wastes, with minimization of occupational, sanitary and environmental hazards. Finally, it critically analyses similar surveys performed in Latin America countries during the last twenty years, about characterization of hospital wastes, emphasizing the adapted methodology and the results obtained

Submitted by Jakeline Ortega (jakortega@unoeste.br) on 2018-09-03T18:16:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO DE MESTRADO_ALESSANDRA 08.06.18.pdf: 2775496 bytes, checksum: 9293def4ce1596339bbedcfc716784d8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-03T18:16:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO DE MESTRADO_ALESSANDRA 08.06.18.pdf: 2775496 bytes, checksum: 9293def4ce1596339bbedcfc716784d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-05 / Due to the debates about the implementation of the National Solid Wastes Law in Brazil, it’s fundamental that the Law meets in all its aspects. Environment and sustainability has caused concern and awakened the uneasiness in many researchers. Thereby, this work is relevant to the current moment, since it aims to verify the effectiveness and adequacy of the practices of industrial wastes management originated in the industries located in the Distrito Industrial Antonio Crepaldi(DIAC) [Industrial District Antonio Crepaldi], in the municipality of Presidente Prudente, state of São Paulo, Brazil, which demonstrated some weaknesses in industrial processes. The methods used in this research were based on the collection of information from the public agency, the Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB) [Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo], where the processes of each DIAC industry were investigated, which included forms of characterization of the enterprise, Environmental Licenses, periodic reports on wastes generation and technical oversight reports. Field research and confirmation of data were carried out with those responsible for each project. The results evidenced the lack of a Solid Wastes Management Plan (PGRS), as established by Law 12.305 / 2010, which establishes the National Solid Wastes Policy (PNRS). Due to the results indicated, improvements were proposed for the normative adequacy of Law 12.305 / 2010. / Em função dos debates sobre a implantação da Lei Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos do Brasil, é fundamental que a Lei seja atendida em todos os seus aspectos. A preocupação com o meio ambiente e com a sustentabilidade tem despertado a inquietude em diversos pesquisadores. Assim, este trabalho é relevante para o momento atual, pois visa como objetivo, a verificar a efetividade e a adequação das práticas de gerenciamento dos resíduos industriais originados nas indústrias localizadas no Distrito Industrial Antonio Crepaldi (DIAC), no município de Presidente Prudente, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, que demonstrou algumas fragilidades nos processos industriais. Os métodos utilizados, nesta pesquisa ocorreram a partir do levantamento de informações junto ao órgão público, a Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB), onde foram investigados os processos de cada indústria do DIAC, que abrangiam formulários de caracterização do empreendimento, Licenças Ambientais, relatórios periódicos de geração de resíduos e pareceres técnicos de fiscalização. Foram realizadas pesquisas em campo e confirmação de dados com os responsáveis de cada empreendimento. Os resultados evidenciaram a falta de um Plano de Gerenciamento de Resíduos Sólidos (PGRS), conforme determina a Lei n° 12.305/2010, que institui a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS). Em função dos resultados apontados, foram propostas melhorias para adequação normativa da Lei n° 12.305/2010.

Sustainable rehabilitation can be compromised by the inability of vegetation to survive in hostile mine wastes on a long-term basis. The adverse chemical and physical properties of mine wastes, together with extreme pH conditions and lack of nutrients, provide poor growth conditions for vegetation during seed development and germination. This raises concern for the long-term survival of vegetation through means of seed production when under stress from the punitive properties of mine wastes. Seed vigour is a function of a variety of factors to which the parent plant is subjected during seed formation and maturation. Environmental conditions experienced by the maternal plant during the growth season plays a significant role in determining subsequent germination rates in seeds. Traits of offspring seed depend on the abiotic environment attributed by the growth medium during seed development and maturation The general aim of this study was to determine the viability of seed produced by a previous generation of grass species established in eight different mine wastes and two soils (namely: gypsum wastes; gold tailings with low pyrite content; gold tailings with high pyrite content; platinum tailings; kimberlite mine waste; fluorspar mine waste; andalusite mine waste; coal discard; red soil; and vertic soil) in order to identify suitable species for specific mine wastes to ensure long-term survival through means of seed production. The species selected included: Eragrostis curvula; Eragrostis tef; Cenchrus ciliaris; Eragrostis curvula; Digitaria eriantha; Cynodon dactylon; Chloris gayana; Hyparrhenia hirta; and Sorghum bicolor. The progeny seed‟s viability and ability to germinate were determined through a pot trial study and additional germination testing at the laboratory of Advance Seed (Pty) Ltd. (AS). The germination results were correlated with the growth media analyses by statistical non-parametric correlations which indicated several significant correlations among the growth media properties themselves, and with the germination of the progeny seed. C. gayana (Rhodes grass) seed had poor germination percentages, especially seed harvested from Rhodes grass grown in acidic wastes. Seed harvested from each of the E. curvula grasses grown in various mine wastes, had excellent germination percentages. According to the Repeated Measures ANOVA statistical analysis, there was a significant influence of the growth media in which the parent grass were grown as a variable on the germination of the progeny seed batches from S. bicolor, C. ciliaris, C. gayana, and D. eriantha, indicating that the environmental factors as attributed by the growth media, i.e. the eight different mine waste materials and two soils, and experienced by the maternal plant, did indeed influence the germination of progeny seed. However, it was found that significant correlations between the properties of the growth media and the germination of the progeny seed, was species dependent. The second general aim for this study was to evaluate above-ground re-growth of parent plants after cutting in the mine waste materials and soil types mentioned above. The ability of established grasses to re-grow after a cutting event was determined by cutting the above-ground biomass of the parent grasses, after which it was scored according observable above-ground growth in the following growth season. The measurement of re-growth was subjectively done by scoring the grasses according to observable above-ground biomass. Re-growth was observed for all the perennial grass species. This can be ascribed to the grasses showing resilience to stress factors attributed by the growth media; or new grasses which emerged from seed that collected in the pots, being mistaken for re-growth; or new emerging grasses from the nodes of stolons and/or rhizomes being mistaken for re-growth. However, the emergence of new grasses was an indicator of good health, as biomass allocation to rhizomes and stolons is reduced under low nutrient availability and stress conditions. Therefore the emergence of new grasses is indicative that the plant is either tolerant to stress conditions or that the plant adapted to the restriction of growth due to the roots being bound to the size of the pot. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Sustainable rehabilitation can be compromised by the inability of vegetation to survive in hostile mine wastes on a long-term basis. The adverse chemical and physical properties of mine wastes, together with extreme pH conditions and lack of nutrients, provide poor growth conditions for vegetation during seed development and germination. This raises concern for the long-term survival of vegetation through means of seed production when under stress from the punitive properties of mine wastes. Seed vigour is a function of a variety of factors to which the parent plant is subjected during seed formation and maturation. Environmental conditions experienced by the maternal plant during the growth season plays a significant role in determining subsequent germination rates in seeds. Traits of offspring seed depend on the abiotic environment attributed by the growth medium during seed development and maturation The general aim of this study was to determine the viability of seed produced by a previous generation of grass species established in eight different mine wastes and two soils (namely: gypsum wastes; gold tailings with low pyrite content; gold tailings with high pyrite content; platinum tailings; kimberlite mine waste; fluorspar mine waste; andalusite mine waste; coal discard; red soil; and vertic soil) in order to identify suitable species for specific mine wastes to ensure long-term survival through means of seed production. The species selected included: Eragrostis curvula; Eragrostis tef; Cenchrus ciliaris; Eragrostis curvula; Digitaria eriantha; Cynodon dactylon; Chloris gayana; Hyparrhenia hirta; and Sorghum bicolor. The progeny seed‟s viability and ability to germinate were determined through a pot trial study and additional germination testing at the laboratory of Advance Seed (Pty) Ltd. (AS). The germination results were correlated with the growth media analyses by statistical non-parametric correlations which indicated several significant correlations among the growth media properties themselves, and with the germination of the progeny seed. C. gayana (Rhodes grass) seed had poor germination percentages, especially seed harvested from Rhodes grass grown in acidic wastes. Seed harvested from each of the E. curvula grasses grown in various mine wastes, had excellent germination percentages. According to the Repeated Measures ANOVA statistical analysis, there was a significant influence of the growth media in which the parent grass were grown as a variable on the germination of the progeny seed batches from S. bicolor, C. ciliaris, C. gayana, and D. eriantha, indicating that the environmental factors as attributed by the growth media, i.e. the eight different mine waste materials and two soils, and experienced by the maternal plant, did indeed influence the germination of progeny seed. However, it was found that significant correlations between the properties of the growth media and the germination of the progeny seed, was species dependent. The second general aim for this study was to evaluate above-ground re-growth of parent plants after cutting in the mine waste materials and soil types mentioned above. The ability of established grasses to re-grow after a cutting event was determined by cutting the above-ground biomass of the parent grasses, after which it was scored according observable above-ground growth in the following growth season. The measurement of re-growth was subjectively done by scoring the grasses according to observable above-ground biomass. Re-growth was observed for all the perennial grass species. This can be ascribed to the grasses showing resilience to stress factors attributed by the growth media; or new grasses which emerged from seed that collected in the pots, being mistaken for re-growth; or new emerging grasses from the nodes of stolons and/or rhizomes being mistaken for re-growth. However, the emergence of new grasses was an indicator of good health, as biomass allocation to rhizomes and stolons is reduced under low nutrient availability and stress conditions. Therefore the emergence of new grasses is indicative that the plant is either tolerant to stress conditions or that the plant adapted to the restriction of growth due to the roots being bound to the size of the pot. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management