ABSTRACT
The trichloroethylene and chlorofluorocarbon examples that follow underscore the importance of understanding your waste generating processes and operations in terms of how chemicals are used and how wastes are generated. The information and data collected as the result of this effort are most useful when summarized and recorded in the form of a narrative description and as block/process flow diagrams. The practice of employing flow diagrams to graphically depict unit operations or interrelated steps in manufacturing processes has been around for years. In combination with material balances and written process descriptions, flow diagrams help to define material systems and communicate a basic understanding of how each unit operation affects the characteristic(s), composition and quantity of solid and hazardous waste generated.
