The worldwide demand for oil also brings up demand for transportation of this material to different countries. Transport is carried out via road, pipeline, and sea; and transportation of oil brings forth risk of spill which in turn endangers the environment. Much of the oil is being carried by tankers, and this poses a constant hazard to marine and coastal ecosystems, which as we know have already suffered from oil spills in the past. Spills that occur offshore can reach the shores by the action of winds and ocean currents, posing immense environmental implications.
It is important to learn how to control waste oil generation and how to properly dispose of oil waste since it cannot be processed by the environment the way it processes any organic matter. For companies that handle oil procurement and transportation, the necessity for waste management is imperative and is considered a top priority. Oil plants, for instance should have reliable contingency plans and these must encompass sufficient waste management provisions, so that in the instant that an accident occurs such plans are put into action. Immediate action will reduce cost through effective containment and treatment before the environmental contamination spreads to a wider area.
There are various programs to deal with the known risk and the actual spill, from reduction of waste production to recycling of waste and proper disposal of waste oil. Control of the amount of waste generated is perhaps the ideal plan. Urgent cleanup operation during a spill must be carried out, and it involves containment and collection of oil and oil-contaminated rubble and waste. Depending on the kind of waste recovered, it may undergo segregation, treatment, recycling, and disposal. Ideally, plants should have a separate waste stream and storage system for each kind of waste generated for instant segregation. Properly segregated waste is easier to process for both recycling and disposal.
Another concern is minimizing of the amount of waste generated to reduce cost in recycling and disposal as well as mitigate environmental impact. This can be carried out by locating the potential impact sites. Clearing out of debris and garbage at the impact sites minimizes the amount of waste to be treated. As mentioned earlier, segregation of waste streams is vital in order for different types of waste to be instantly separated, since separation of mixed waste is extremely difficult. Waste containment areas should be waterproof or have cover to prevent seepage of rainwater since water in the waste containments would demand further effort in waste treatment.
Crude oil is an indispensable natural resource used in various industries. At the same time, it is a serious environmental contaminant posing concern for environmental conservation organizations all over the world. Improper disposal of oil waste can lead to serious litigations as there are laws passed to protect the environment from wanton destruction propagated by oil spills due to improper containment of oil and sometimes recklessness. Prevention of contamination is so much better than devising containment and dispersal measures.
The objective of waste oil treatment is to process oil waste, so it can be recycled or transformed into something usable or be disposed of properly if it renders unusable. All the efforts encompassed in waste oil treatment are to prevent waste from entering environmental systems, furthermore destroying flora and fauna that get exposed to it. For instance, maritime oil spills can endanger marine conditions and risk the lives of marine organisms. At the same time, even discarding used cooking oil into sinks is also not recommended. Hence, whether you are looking at a worldwide or domestic scale, oil waste disposal and treatment are two imperative measures that should be done in accordance to the legislation not because we want to avert criminal offenses but because we want to take care of the environment.
Jo is a content writer for 'Ecokem' ( http://www.ecokem.co.uk ), a reputable UK based chemical manufacturer that concentrates in the development and supply of waste oil treatment substances, aqueous purifiers, chemical products and aerosol degreasers to a wide array of industries. If your business is looking for a wide selection of de-ashing compounds, oil demulsifiers and coalescing solutions to be used in the treatment of waste oils then have a look at Ecokem. |
