FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1986
12
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON CODISPOSAL OF WASTES UNDERWAY *****
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, IN PLANNING FOR COMPREHENSIVE CONTROLS ON THE DISPOSAL OF TOXIC, HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES, HAS EMBARKED ON AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO INVESTIGATE THE CODISPOSAL OF SUCH WASTES UNDER LOCAL CONDITIONS.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY BY MR MIKE STOKOE, ACTING PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE.
MR STOKOE SAID THE PROJECT, DIVIDED INTO THREE PHASES, INVOLVED AN EXTENSIVE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP SUÍTABLE TECHNIQUES TO CODISPOSE SOME OF THE TOXIC, HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES WITH HOUSEHOLD, COMMERCIAL AND INDÚSTRIAL WASTES.
THE EXPERIMENTAL METHODS, HE SAID, WERE DESIGNED BY THE HARWELL LABORATORY IN BRITAIN, AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED CENTRE OF EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.
HE SAID THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT, COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, INVOLVED THE SCREENING OF TOXIC, HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES SUITABLE FOR CODISPOSAL AND THE SETTING UP OF LABORATORY SCALE TEST COLUMNS TO EXAMINE THE WASTE BEHAVIOUR AND LEACHATE CHARACTERISTICS.
EACH TEST THE TEST COLUMNS ARE MADE OF BOROSILICATE GLASS. COLUMN IS PACKED WITH PULVERISED REFUSE AND A LAYER OF TOXIC OR HAZARDOUS WASTES.
THE WASTES SELECTED FOR THE STUDY INCLUDE TANNERY WASTE, METAL SLUDGES, BATTERIES, WASTE OILS, PAINT WASTE, BOILER GRÍT, DEWATERED SEWAGE SLUDGE AND HIGH FLASH-POINT SOLVENTS.
MR STOKOE SAID THAT TO COMPLEMENT THE LABORATORY SCALE STUDY, PILOT SCALE TEST CELLS WERE BEING CONSTRUCTED AT THE JUNK BAY CONTROLLED TIP IN THE CURRENT PHASE TO FULLY SIMULATE THE ACTUAL CONDITIONS.
THE JUNK BAY CONTROLLED TIP IS MANAGED BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT THE TEST CELL CONSTRUCTION WORKS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY ITS CONTRACTOR.
THE TEST CELLS ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH SOFT FILL MATERIALS. EACH CELL MEASURES 400 SQUARE METRES IN AREA INTERNALLY AND IS RAISED TO A HEIGHT OF 10 METRES IN FIVE STAGES.
AND
THE TEST CELLS ARE LINED WITH A 2.5MM HIGH-DENSITY POLYTHENE SHEET AT THE BASE FOR CONTAINMENT OF THE LEACHATE.
TOUR PERFORATED