Waste

Effective waste management relies on characterisation, classification and consideration of value-added use opportunities.

Valorisation of waste – the development of low-value resources into useful products - is based on the concepts of “fit for purpose” and “safe to use

• Despite the emphasis on the waste hierarchy listing - in order of priority, prevention, re-use, recycling, other recovery (e.g., energy) and disposal - a large proportion of waste still finds its way to landfill disposal.
• Consideration of human health in conjunction with site-specific geological and hydrogeological settings is fundamental to assessment for disposal containment (waste site liner systems). This may require geochemical modelling, contaminant transport modelling and quantitative site-specific health risk assessment.
• Valorisation of waste – the development of low-value resources into useful products - is based on the concepts of “fit for purpose” and “safe to use”. The evaluation approach rests on health-, natural- and civil engineering sciences.
• Valorisation of waste has considerable advantages, allowing replacement of natural materials. The need for mining and quarrying is reduced, with direct savings on energy consumption and reduction in environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions.
• INFOTOX assists in waste characterisation, valorisation and classification based on the Globally Harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS), as represented by South African National Standards (SANS 10234:2008). This informs safe management and the preparation of a safety data sheet (SDS).