CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
17.7. CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
By its nature, industrial production has an impact upon the environment. Whenever raw materials are extracted, processed, used, and eventually discarded, some environmental impacts will occur. In designing an industrial ecological system, several major kinds of environmental impacts must be considered in order to minimize them and keep them within acceptable limits. These impacts and the measures taken to alleviate them are discussed below.
For most industrial processes, the first environmental impact is that of extracting raw materials. This can be a straightforward case of mineral extraction, or it can be less direct, such as utilization of biomass grown on forest or crop land. A basic decision, therefore, is the choice of the kind of material to be used. Wherever possible, materials should be chosen that are not likely to be in short supply in the foreseeable future. As an example, the silica used to make the lines employed for fiber-optics communication is in unlimited supply and a much better choice for communication lines than copper wire made from limited supplies of copper ore.
Industrial ecology systems should be designed to reduce or even totally eliminate air pollutant emissions. Among the most notable recent progress in that area has been Industrial ecology systems should be designed to reduce or even totally eliminate air pollutant emissions. Among the most notable recent progress in that area has been
of methane, CH 4 , and oxides of nitrogen or sulfur. Discharges of water pollutants should be entirely eliminated wherever possible. For many decades, efficient and effective water treatment systems have been employed that minimize water pollution. However, these are “end of pipe” measures, and it is much more desirable to design industrial systems such that potential water pollutants are not even generated.
Industrial ecology systems should be designed to prevent production of liquid wastes that may have to be sent to a waste processor. Such wastes fall into the two broad categories of water-based wastes and those contained in organic liquids. Under current conditions the largest single constituent of so-called “hazardous wastes” is water. Elimination of water from the waste stream automatically prevents pollution and reduces amounts of wastes requiring disposal. The solvents in organic wastes largely represent potentially recyclable or combustible constituents. A properly designed industrial ecosystem does not allow such wastes to be generated or to leave the factory site.
In addition to liquid wastes, many solid wastes must be considered in an industrial ecosystem. The most troublesome are toxic solids that must be placed in a secure hazardous waste landfill. The problem has become especially acute in some industrialized nations in which the availability of landfill space is severely limited. In a general sense, solid wastes are simply resources that have not been properly utilized. Closer cooperation among suppliers, manufacturers, consumers, regulators, and recyclers can minimize quantities and hazards of solid wastes.
Whenever energy is expended, there is a degree of environmental damage. Therefore, energy efficiency must have a high priority in a properly designed industrial ecosystem. Significant progress has been made in this area in recent decades, as much because of the high costs of energy as for environmental improvement. More efficient devices, such as electric motors, and approaches, such as congeneration of electricity and heat, that make the best possible use of energy resources are highly favored. An important side benefit of more efficient energy utilization is the lowered emissions of air pollutants, including greenhouse gases.