By-Product

From Open Risk Manual

Definition

An exclusive by-product is a product technologically linked to the production of other products in the same group, but which is not produced in any other group (for example, molasses linked to the production of sugar).

A substance or object resulting from a production process the primary aim of which is not the production of that substance or object is considered not to be waste, but to be a by-product if the following conditions are met:

  • further use of the substance or object is certain
  • the substance or object can be used directly without any further processing other than normal industrial practice
  • the substance or object is produced as an integral part of a production process; and
  • further use is lawful, i.e., the substance or object fulfils all relevant product, environmental and health protection requirements for the specific use and will not lead to overall adverse environmental or human health impacts.


Exclusive by-products are used as inputs for the manufacture of other products. An ordinary by-product (i.e. a by-product which is not exclusive to a single group) is a product technologically linked to the production of other products, but which is produced in several groups (for example, the hydrogen produced during petroleum refining is technologically linked to that produced in petrochemical manufacture and coal carbonisation and identical to that produced in the group comprising other basic chemical products).