POZZOLANIC MICROENCAPSULATION
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ASSURANCE
Charles L. Smith, Principal Researcher
Conversion Systems, Inc.
Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044
Kent E. Zenobia. Senior Environmental Engineer
Envirosafe Services, Inc.
Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044
Industrial wastes as an environmental problem have been widely discussed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified over 40 million tons of chemical industry waste produced annually as hazardous. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) of 1976 began what promises to be a long and tedious battle to achieve proper
destruction or disposal for these wastes. There is as yet an uncertainty in the mechanism of
RCRA, causing many to be concerned over what destruction or disposal methods are adequate now, and will remain adequate into the future.
A long list can be compiled of events paralleling Love Canal or the Valley of the Drums
[1). Yet, many of these disposal inadequacies that may now be considered criminal were
adequate when initially carried out. Those responsible for waste disposal are keenly aware of
the environmental and financial effects of these tragedies.
WHOSE LIBIALITY?
The generator of hazardous wastes has two basic options: (1) to take the responsibility
for disposal on his own shoulders, using a company-owned facility; or (2) to hand the disposal task to a professional disposal service. Neither decision removes the burden of responsibility from the shoulders of the generator. Existing legislation clearly establishes liability
for disposal mishaps that occur directly under the control of a generator. Aside from a
company responsibility for generating the waste, even pollution engineers in the employ of
that company, in the opinion of several attorneys, have personal liability: "Any person who
may have taken part at any time in a private discussion where the outcome was to ignore a
possible situation, like properly disposing of hazardous waste, is liable" [21. "Anyone who
withholds information about a dangerous situation is liable" [21.
The generator disposing of his own hazardous waste must also maintain substantial insurance covering sudden and accidental pollution liability [3).
Use of a disposal service is no remedy for the potential liabilities involved in hazardous
waste disposal.
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation and Liability Act of
1980 (SUPERFUND) any company that arranges for the disposal of hazardous wastes is
liable if those wastes are not disposed of properly 14 [.
In addition, the stigma of liability extends to all persons who transported waste to the
disposal site and, of course, to the operator of the disposal site [ 5).
CONSIDERING THE RISK
For the majority of industrial wastes, it has been concluded that a secure landfill is the
appropriate answer, whether by the generator or by a disposal service. The primary function
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