Cleaner technology is concerned with minimizing the environmental impact of releases and emissions from processes. The underlying objective is prevention of waste rather than generation. In order to minimize waste in any form every aspect of a process has to be optimized. The goals are achieved by adoption of the following measures: -
Reduction at Source: The most effective way to stop a material from intruding into the environment as waste is not to use or make it.
Product Changes: The option of using substitute materials or inputs that perform the same function but with lesser environmental consequences should be explored.
Process Changes: Process should be so modified so that polluting materials are either not made or isolated.
Re-use: Re- use of inputs by recycling is one way of preventing the release of the same into the environment.
On-site Recycling: Using a by product of one process as a raw material for another process prevents the same from entering into the waste stream.
Off – site Recycling: Transporting the by product of a process for use elsewhere as input raw material is off- site recycling. However, the resulting pollution, cost of transportation, handling, etc. must be considered before embarking into off-site recycling.
Cleaner technology is about innovative measures for processes and rearrangement of human resource and equipment with ingenuity to minimize waste. The gains are on the financial as well as on the environmental side. The advantage of enhanced process efficiency with waste reduction offsets the capital cost.
