Recycling of Wastewater Treatment Sludges From Electroplating Operations, F006

摘要

Wastewater treatment sludges from electroplating operations, EPA listing no. F006. represent one of the largest sources in the United States of untapped metal-bearing secondary materials amenable to metal recovery. In spite of a large concentration of recoverable metals, a number of regulatory and non-regulatory factors have resulted in a relatively low recovery rate (i.e., 10 to 20 percent) when compared with other metal-bearing hazardous waste such as spent lead-acid batteries and emission control dust from electric arc furnaces (K061) which have recovery rates in excess of 80 percent. This article reviews the current regulatory status of F006 as hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), summarizes existing information about F006 recycling and comments about existing regulatory mechanisms to encourage environmentally sound recycling of this material.