Reports and Reviews

321

sound understanding of type, quantity and characteristics of the wastes . A samplingprocedure is presented and data are given on quantity and composition . Section 4involves Collection and Transport although the section also describes conventionalstorage and some systems for recycling . The following three sections, (5 to 7) coverincineration, composting, and sanitary landfilling . All three sections are thorough andpresent all the necessary information to have a good understanding of the subjectmatter. Section 8 addresses "other treatment and disposal methods" . This includes :ocean dumping, pyrolysis, production of refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and anaerobicdigestion. Hospital waste management is discussed in Section 9 . This section covers allthe critical aspects of hospital wastes including types, handling, risks, storage and finaldisposition. Sections 10 and I1 deal with managerial and social aspects of solid wastemanagement. The final main section (Section 12) deals with "future trends" in solidwaste management . This section covers present strategies and their limitations as well asrecycling, recovery and waste reduction . The reference (Section 13) lists more than 100publications in solid waste management .

With the exception of a slight slant towards European conditions (appropriately sosince it was prepared in cooperation with WHO/EURO) and a somewhat limitedcoverage of recycling, and source reduction, this publication would be an importantreference for solid waste managers throughout the world .

BOOK REVIEW :

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT . ByD. William Tedder and Frederick G . Pohland (eds), ACS Symposium Series 422 .American Chemical Society, Washington DC 20036, U.S.A . (1990) . 402 pp . Reviewed byR. B. Dean.

This volume includes the original manuscripts of 21 papers selected from those presentedat a Symposium in Atlanta GA/USA in May 1989 . An excellent overview by the editorsexplains the chemistry and probable applications of the results of each of the papers .

The first 12 papers deal with the destruction or removal of recalcitrant substances inwastewater . Many of the substances are of industrial origin . Six deal with oxidativetechniques involving oxygen free radicals, two with biological oxidation, two withspecific sorbants . One which deals with affinity dialysis through special membranesprovides a useful introduction to the subject . One paper deals with amine extractants foracids such as sulfuric acid and zinc sulfate . The acidic materials can be recovered atuseful concentrations and the amines are recycled .

Five papers deal with landfill site characterization and monitoring or migration ofspecific pollutants including chlorinated organics and toxic metal salts . One paper dealswith chemical dechlorination of dioxins at the moderate temperatures obtainable in thefield and attempts to define optimal treatment conditions . Another describes biologicaldechlorination of chlorophenols from wood treating plant sites by composting withchicken manure .

Only two papers deal with recycling and one of them is specific for the recovery ofplutonium. The other deals with recovery of dichloromethane waste solvent from a largeUniversity laboratory that synthesises peptides . The techniques are applicable to manylaboratories that use solvents .

The only paper related to incinerations deals with the solidification of ash fromfurnaces and incinerators, here called "energy waste" . The product is sufficiently stableto make artificial reefs for use in sea water without loss of heavy metals to theenvironment .