POPs (or persistent organic pollutants) are a list of poisonous chemicals which can still be found in some household items, including fire-resistant furniture, waterproof clothing, non-stick kitchenware, grease-resistant food packaging and stain-resistant carpets.
The term persistent organic pollutants can be better understood as follows:
POPs break down very slowly over time and get into the food chain as a result, which then leads to a build of POPs in both animals and humans alike. It is estimated that 99% of humans have POPs in their bodies and there is international concern that this is a cause of cancer and other diseases, including harm to unborn babies.
While the manufacture, sale and use of items containing POPs is now banned, there are obviously still a lot of items at large that contain POPs that at some point will be disposed of into the waste management system.
As a first step, the government have released guidance on storing and disposing of waste containing POPs, which includes guidance on shredding upholstered seating containing POPs and minimising fugitive dust emissions. The guidance states that you must minimise the release of particulates when shredding by reducing emissions from the shredder, the area around the shredder and the shredder building.
Examples of methods for minimising fugitive emissions include misting over the shredder hopper, conveyor system and within buildings, and using dust suppression cannons to control point source emissions of particulates.
Corgin have offered a range of dust suppression solutions for over two decades, and our experience with controlling dust emissions containing dangerous substances such as asbestos and respirable silica means that we are well-placed to control emissions containing POPs, all in line with our mission of making it easier for those who care about clean water and clean air.
