Process waste assessments for the evaluation of waste minimization technologies

In order to implement a cohesive waste minimization plan, it is important to have an initial assessment of the various waste streams at the facility. At a facility such as Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) where the waste streams typically are small but diverse, the best assessments would be done by the generators of the waste streams since they are, in most instances, the only people who have the process knowledge necessary to make a thorough assessment. Software developed at LANL will help waste generators make waste assessments and evaluate potential waste minimization technologies. Included in the assessments are a complete mass balance to ensure that the process is being modeled completely; a trackable history of selected wastes (graphically displayed); cost, energy, and manpower considerations such as hours worked or hazardous exposures. The system also provides the opportunity to evaluate potential waste minimization solutions (either through a Best Available Technologies database or through graphical input) and determine any downstream ramifications of implementing these solutions. The software used to implement these assessments will be discussed along with practical considerations and results of testing performed at selected Laboratory facilities. (author)