The study describes and analyses the relationship between the production of waste in animal product processing industries on the one hand and the prevention and treatment of the waste on the other. The industries discussed are slaughterhouses, tanneries and the dairy industry. The report offers a summary of the knowledge on production, prevention and treatment of waste in these three animal products processing industries. Because of the limited time available for this study, the problems that occur in the mentioned industries have not been treated in full detail.
Important questions related to the subject are those regarding: (1) the differences between various product processing methods; (2) the reduction of the production of waste; and (3) the methods of waste treatment.
Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to the subject, the different types of waste produced, the variables by which to measure pollution and the definition of the Key Indicator (quantity of industrially processed product) of the environmental impact of the processing of animal products.
Chapters 2, 3 and 4 describe the waste production in the three main animal products processing industries and a number of methods by which waste production might be reduced. Chapter 5 describes the handling of by-products and the treatment of waste products.
The conclusions and recommendations in chapter 6 summarize the technological and policy options that may help reduce waste production and the negative impact on the environment from the processing of animal products.
1.2. General environmental impact
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1.2.1. Wastewater
1.2.2. Solid waste
1.2.3. Air pollution
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The manufacturing of animal products for human consumption (meat and dairy products) or for other human needs (leather), leads inevitably to the production of waste. Under traditional conditions, the quantities of products processed in a