ABSTRACT
As mentioned throughout this text, waste minimization encompasses recycling/ reuse, waste reduction (material substitution, process changes, good housekeeping, etc.), and waste treatment on-site (1,2). Biotechnology has a direct impact on, and applicability to, an engineer’s ability to achieve waste minimization goals. It has had demonstrated success with recycling programs via the generation of biogas as an alternative fuel. Bioremediation approaches have also been used for: point source reduction via biopolishing (3) and individual stream treatment (4); by-product utilization (5); material substitution (6); facilitation of new enzymatic/metabolic pathways to produce “cleaner” organic substances (7); and end-of-pipe treatments (8-10). This chapter will highlight a few of the biotechnology approaches to waste minimization.
