Following the 2002 Prestige spill off the coast of Spain, almost twice as much waste was collected as oil was spilled – 117,000 tons vs. 63,000 tons. As oil response and recovery operations are rarely conducted near existing waste management facilities, the development of waste management strategies that minimize the amount of waste generated by these activities is of clear importance. Of further importance are the pre-identification, evaluation, and selection of waste management logistical infrastructure (trucks, containers, etc.) and storage and disposal options. Selections will depend on the size of a spill, its location, and local or regional regulatory requirements. In some areas, oil spill wastes are considered “hazardous wastes” and are subject to those regulations.
4.3.1. Storage Options
Onshore/near shore
- Earthen, snow, or air (inflatable) berms
- Tanks: livestock, FRAC, oilfield, pillow, etc.
- Drums
- Trash bags, dumpsters
- Dump, tank, or vacuum trucks
Offshore
- Barges or boats with deck tanks
- Skimmer vessels
- Drums
- Towable tanks, tankers
4.3.2. Disposal Options
Non-oily waste (PPE, sewage, domestic waste)
- Local wastewater treatment plants
- Municipal landfills
Oiled and hazardous waste
- Industrial landfilling
- Open burning
- Portable incineration
- Commercial incineration
- Reprocessing/recycling
- Reclaiming/recycling
Footnotes
52. National Fire Protection Association. (2018). NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.; National Fire Protection Association. (2017). NFPA 1072: Standard for Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications.