[Prevention of industrial waste, an explorative study of the potential for quantitative prevention of industrial waste.]

The industrial waste prevention potential is calculated by summation of the prevention potential for a large number of specific waste streams, which are defined at a 3-digit ISIC level (with emphasis on process-related wastes). Along with the prevention potential, the yearly amounts of wastes released are also determined (for the year 1990 or 1991). The only criterion used in the selection of prevention options was technical feasibility: economic feasibility was not an issue in the selection procedure. The prevention options are devided into three 'levels of certainty' (high, medium and low) to indicate which part of the prevention potential is based on technology already proven on an industrial scale, and which part is based on technology needing further research before implementation. A prevention potential of 11.8% is estimated for the total amount of industrial waste (21,000 kilotonnes yearly). With regard to process-related waste excluding the waste materials phosphogypsum and jarosite (17,900 kilotonnes yearly), 10.2% prevention seems technically feasible. Three branches of industry, i.e. food and beverages, chemicals and building materials are good for 80% of this prevention potential, and are therefore looked upon as the most promissing branches for the realisation of prevention goals