Question 15 of 18: Components of a Hazardous Waste Management Plan

Question 15: Components of a Hazardous Waste Management Plan (4 marks)

Question text not reproduced: the examination questions are © Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Open the official past paper (linked at the top of this page) to read the question, then follow the worked solution below.

With the source inventory (what hazardous waste is generated, where, and how much) already complete, the remaining components needed to turn that inventory into a working hazardous-waste management plan are: (1) a waste-minimization/pollution-prevention plan — source reduction, process substitution, and recycling/reuse opportunities identified from the inventory, since reducing the waste generated at source is always the preferred (and usually cheapest) first step; (2) on-site handling, segregation and storage procedures — compatible-waste segregation to avoid dangerous reactions, container/labelling standards, and storage-time/quantity limits consistent with regulatory requirements; (3) a transportation and manifest tracking system for any waste leaving the site, satisfying cradle-to-grave documentation requirements; (4) selection of appropriate off-site (or on-site) treatment and disposal methods for each waste stream identified in the inventory, matched to its specific hazard characteristics; (5) an emergency response and spill-contingency plan, including employee training, spill-containment equipment and reporting procedures; and (6) a record-keeping, reporting and regulatory-compliance program, documenting generation, storage, transport and disposal to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the applicable hazardous-waste regulation and to support the plan's periodic review and updating as the industry's processes change.