Most businesses in the construction, manufacturing and utility industries usually have to deal with some kind of hazardous waste. However, if you’ve just started producing such waste, you probably don’t know the importance of taking all the necessary steps to ensure safe and responsible waste disposal. Do you need to dispose of hazardous waste such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), paints, oily rags and chemicals? Here’s how to start:
Identify your waste
Every time your business needs to send hazardous waste for disposal or recycling, it is required to detail the content of the waste. The descriptions must include the proper waste classification codes, whether it’s hazardous or not, the type of business where the waste was produced, the proper names of the substances, the name of the process that produced it, detailed chemical analysis and any additional problems, requirements and knowledge that concerns the said waste.
Select the storage area
Your waste has to be properly stored in your facility. The designated storage space needs to be located near the place where the waste is being generated, under the control of trained experts and away from normal business activities. The area must be labeled with “Danger—Hazardous Waste” signs to make it easily recognizable by workers and inspectors.
Ensure proper storage
In the storage area, all hazardous waste needs to be stored in proper containers suitable for the type of hazardous material. Toxic waste must not be mixed with other waste materials to prevent any chemical reactions and corrosion of the containers (this also makes recycling impossible).
The containers must be stored in a way that won’t cause damage to the container or any leakage. The containers should stay closed except when adding more waste or disposing of it and labeled with proper signage. Additionally, there might be the need for secondary containment in case the primary containment raptures or spills. When dealing with sulfatreat h2s removal, it’s important to provide the right inlet separator with a high-efficiency pad to remove free liquids from the gas. The waste of this process also needs to be properly labeled and contained.
Choose a responsible disposal partner
It’s necessary to hire an experienced and certified company for hazardous rubbish removal in Sydney to handle your hazardous materials and properly dispose of them. When choosing such a partner, make sure to check the company’s history and ensure they haven’t been connected to any contamination incidents. They also need to comply with all the environmental laws and have all the necessary permits in place. Lastly, ensure they have trained staff and adequate environmental liability insurance and provisions for closure and cleanup (if necessary)
Encourage recycling
Hazardous waste such as acids, solvents, oil and metals can be recycled in most cases. This process is not only beneficial to the environment but also cost-effective for your business. Expect a boost in production efficiency and an increase in cost reduction with proper waste disposal and raw materials costs. With recycling, there’s less need to visit hazardous waste landfills and pay for incinerators. When these facilities have a smaller amount of work, there’s a lower need for energy usage and less pollution.
Train your employees
When disposing of hazardous waste and maintaining a safe environment, having well-trained workers is the key. Your company must ensure that all the employees know how to handle waste and follow emergency procedures, all relevant to their duties in the company of course. If your company generates a large amount of waste, the training requirements need to be stricter and include both classroom and field training by a certified instructor for hazardous waste management.
Create a contingency plan
Having an emergency contingency plan is crucial for all hazardous waste generators. With a hazardous waste contingency plan, you can minimize hazards to humans and protect the environment from fires, explosions and leaks of hazardous waste. Each facility owner and operator must develop their own plan and come up with a set of actions that need to be implemented to stop the emergency from escalating. This plan should be organized, planned and coordinated depending on your hazardous waste generator status.
With these protocols and tips in mind, any amount of hazardous waste will be handled properly to ensure the safety of staff, inspectors and the environment. Be responsible and ethical with the disposal and your business will be allowed to thrive in the changing future.
