Rehabilitation of Solid Industrial
Wastes Disposal Sites
C. S. GROVE, JR., Professor
MARK L. KESTNER, Research Associate
N. L. NEMEROW, Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
INTRODUCTION
Solid industrial wastes arise from many different sources in a large variety of
industries. As such they vary in quantity, physical and chemical properties, methods
of disposal and potential re-uses. The major objectives of this research are 1) to
determine the quantities, physical and chemical properties of major solid industrial
wastes and 2) to study modifications of these properties that will permit useful byproduct recovery or rehabilitation and beautification of the presently barren land
areas covered by deposition of these wastes. To meet these objectives the following
coordinated program is being carried out: 1) collect and collate the available information and data concerning quantities, characteristics, methods of disposal and
potential re-uses of various solid industrial wastes; 2) determine common physical
and chemical properties and variants of the categorized wastes; 3) project total
national industrial solid waste production for selected groups of industries; 4) study
methods and rates of infiltration, percolation and leaching, under simulated and
natural conditions, for removal of valuable by-products and harmful or undesirable
constituents which at present render the land areas covered by deposition of these
wastes barren and unproductive.
METHODS FOR COLLECTION OF INDUSTRIAL
SOLID WASTES INFORMATION
The methods used for collecting industrial solid wastes information include:
1) Letters of inquiry; 2) Personal interviews; and 3) Literature survey from 1960 to
date. The letters of inquiry were circulated to various industries, universities, and
state and federal agencies. Personal interviews were conducted to obtain more detailed information concerning quantities of solid waste production for particular
manufacturers or processes. A personal interview of the industrial waste hauler was
conducted to provide additional information and a check on the accuracy of the
information obtained from the industry. The literature survey is concentrated on
articles abstracted in Engineering Index, Chemical Abstracts and Purdue Industrial
Waste Conference Proceedings.
Letters of Inquiry
The initial work associated with this project involved an effort to acquaint the
staff with the total industrial solid wastes problem. This phase of the industrial solid
waste project was performed by the use of letters of inquiry. These letters were de-
- 1072-