Can't hazardous waste be used for something?

Question

Well I figure everything has a use. We use certain things combined with other things and create a product of some kind.

So why can't a byproduct be used to make something else?

Hmmm, Will I have to become a mad genius and find a way?

Answer 1

That is the mother of invention.  You take what we don't use and think of away to use it.  So far no one has yet, but I am sure some people are thinking about it.  You have to somehow make it safe, and then find a use for it.  I would hope some genius, has mixed it with most common things to find out what will make it safe.  Who knows maybe they never thought about boiling it.   Or turning the waste into a liquid and then deluding it with water, milk, alcohol, human bile waste, Blood, clay, or anything else you can think of.  Go to it.

Answer 2

Some of the problem with haz waste is the way the EPA classifies waste. Waste that is classified as a flammable (by flash point), or corrosive (by pH) is considered hazardous waste. Most people tend to think about haz waste as something that is toxic or carcinogenic, which is also classified as haz waste.

Some haz waste that is flammable can be blended with other fuels and used in industrial applications- furnaces, kilns etc. Because the waste is classified as EPA haz waste, all the storage, handling, record keeping, transportation etc must be in compliance with EPA regulations. Unfortunately our EPA makes it very difficult to find recycle- reuse applications for haz waste.

Similar things can be said about corrosive waste. Some acidic corrosive waste could be recycled to recover the contained acid, or use it to neutralize waste streams that are basic.

It is often the other components that are present that make reuse of haz waste difficult. for example, a small amount of benzene, which is present is gasoline and is also considered a carcinogen, will make the stream "undesireable" to potential users, since there are specific EPA regulations governing benzene.

Then there is the last issue of volume or quantity available- a processor of haz waste will probably only be interested in one or only a few different types for a specific application. Most likely, there will not be enough waste available locally to justify the cost for building a plant to process the waste.

As you can see, there are lots of barriers

So what can you do... become that mad genius... let these barriers serve as challenges... can you figure out a way to overcome them?

The world needs creative people... go for it