Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) Facilities

TSD

Hazardous waste management facilities that treat, store, or dispose of hazardous wastes are often referred to as TSD.

• Treatment facilities use various processes (such as incineration or oxidation) to alter the character or composition of hazardous wastes. Some treatment processes enable waste to be recovered and reused in manufacturing settings, while others dramatically reduce the amount of hazardous waste. 
• Storage facilities temporarily hold hazardous wastes until they are treated or disposed of.
• Disposal facilities permanently contain hazardous wastes.  The most common type of disposal facility is a landfill, where hazardous wastes are disposed of in units carefully constructed and designed to protect groundwater and surface-water resources.

TN has detailed regulations to ensure that TSDFs operate safely and protect human health and the environment: TN Rule Chapter 0400-12-01-.06 and .07. 

Hazardous Waste Management Permitting

• Hazardous Waste Management Permits

Facilities that currently or plan to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous wastes must obtain a RCRA permit. A RCRA permit is a legally binding document that establishes operating requirements and various provisions specific to the needs of the permit applicant depending on the treatment, storage, or disposal activities conducted at the facility. Permits are written to address the specific geography of the facility, the types of hazardous waste management units, and the specific waste streams that will be managed at the facility.  The permit also outlines facility design and operation, lays out safety standards, and describes activities that the facility must perform, such as monitoring and reporting.  Permits typically require facilities to develop emergency plans, find insurance and financial backing, and train employees to handle hazards and can include facility-specific requirements such as groundwater monitoring.  

Open Burning & Open Detonation

Many waste propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, and waste munition items are unsafe to treat by conventional methods of hazardous waste management.  Open detonation and open burn operations are used to destroy excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions and energetic (i.e., explosive) materials. 

Open burn and open detonation are subject to increasing regulatory restrictions that can be found in TN Rule 0400-12-01-.06(27) and TN Rule 0400-12-01-.07(5)(b)9. These standards require that units be operated in a manner that does not threaten human health and the environment, and that a minimum safe distance from other properties is maintained when waste explosives are disposed of by open burning and open detonation.

In open burning, materials are destroyed by self-sustained combustion after being ignited.  In open detonation, explosives and munitions are destroyed by a detonation of added explosive charges. Open detonation is also used in emergencies to destroy munitions and improvised explosive devices deemed unsafe to move. 

In the past, these operations occurred at the land surface or in pits. Recently, burn trays and blast boxes have been used to control and contain resulting emissions. In detonation processes, the blast box may be below grade and covered with soil to further minimize the release of emissions. In cases of emergencies, temporary barriers are constructed to limit blast, noise, and toxic releases.

Combustion

Combustion is the controlled burning of substances in an enclosed area, as a means of treating and disposing of hazardous waste.

There are two categories of combustion units for solid and liquid hazardous wastes:

• Incinerators - used primarily for waste destruction. 
• Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (BIFs) - used primarily for energy and material recovery. 

The regulations affecting hazardous waste processed in BIFs include the general TSDF facility standards, standards for the direct transfer of waste from a transportation vehicle to a unit, and regulation of residues. BIFs are required to comply with strict air emissions standards to ensure adequate protection of human health and the environment.

Incinerators

Incinerators are used to burn hazardous waste primarily for waste destruction/treatment purposes; however, some energy or material recovery can occur. When performed properly, incineration destroys the toxic organic constituents in hazardous waste and reduces the volume of the waste. Since metals will not combust, incineration is not an effective method for treating metal-bearing hazardous wastes. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations governing incinerators can be found at TN Rule Chapter 0400-12-01-.06(15) - Incinerators.

Boilers and Industrial Furnaces (BIFs)

BIFs are typically used to burn hazardous waste for the significant energy and material recovery potential, with waste treatment being a secondary benefit. Boilers typically combust waste for energy recovery, while industrial furnaces burn waste for both energy and material recovery.

A boiler is defined as an enclosed device that uses controlled flame combustion to recover and export energy in the form of steam, heated fluid, or heated gases. An industrial furnace is a unit that is an integral part of a manufacturing process and uses thermal treatment to recover materials or energy. 

RCRA regulations governing boilers and industrial furnaces can be found at TN Rule Chapter 0400-12-01-.09(8) - Hazardous Waste Burned in Boilers and Industrial Furnaces.