Chemical Waste Management
CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
INTRODUCTION
Chemical waste is managed in various ways, some which are environment friendly and some which are hazardous. It has effects on water supply, fertility of the soil, climate, health of individuals, et.c. What really matters is how well this waste is managed. Chemical waste management typically includes the collection, transportation, processing and recycling/disposal of chemical waste. In past times, it was the role of the country to control chemical waste management but recently it has attracted the concern of some international organizations. The technique that some of these international organizations are trying to inculcate into developing countries is the sound management of chemicals (SMC). Sound management of chemicals (SMC) is the application of managerial best practices to chemicals through their life cycle to prevent and, where this is not possible, to reduce or minimize the potential for exposure of people and the environment to toxic and hazardous chemicals. As each type of waste or chemical demands a unique method for processing and disposing, developing countries often do not recognize or acknoledge this difference. Therefore, these international organizations are working on methods and means by which these developing countries can conform to the standards adopted by the developed countries and improve their chemicals management regime, UNDP assists countries integrate the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) into national development.
Brief History on Chemical Waste Management
In the 70’s, there was so much neglect to the management of chemical waste. The study of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in the 1980’s brought more attention to chemical waste management as it was discovered that CFC depletes the ozone layer [a layer in earth’s atmosphere that protects the earth from the ultraviolet rays from the sun (UV rays)]. Dr. Rowland, a chemist at the University of California Irvine made up a
INTRODUCTION
Chemical waste is managed in various ways, some which are environment friendly and some which are hazardous. It has effects on water supply, fertility of the soil, climate, health of individuals, et.c. What really matters is how well this waste is managed. Chemical waste management typically includes the collection, transportation, processing and recycling/disposal of chemical waste. In past times, it was the role of the country to control chemical waste management but recently it has attracted the concern of some international organizations. The technique that some of these international organizations are trying to inculcate into developing countries is the sound management of chemicals (SMC). Sound management of chemicals (SMC) is the application of managerial best practices to chemicals through their life cycle to prevent and, where this is not possible, to reduce or minimize the potential for exposure of people and the environment to toxic and hazardous chemicals. As each type of waste or chemical demands a unique method for processing and disposing, developing countries often do not recognize or acknoledge this difference. Therefore, these international organizations are working on methods and means by which these developing countries can conform to the standards adopted by the developed countries and improve their chemicals management regime, UNDP assists countries integrate the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC) into national development.
Brief History on Chemical Waste Management
In the 70’s, there was so much neglect to the management of chemical waste. The study of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in the 1980’s brought more attention to chemical waste management as it was discovered that CFC depletes the ozone layer [a layer in earth’s atmosphere that protects the earth from the ultraviolet rays from the sun (UV rays)]. Dr. Rowland, a chemist at the University of California Irvine made up a