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Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage & Disposal

Hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal is not just an environmental concern, but a public health hazard that can even exist around the home in unsuspecting products. Even the proper disposal and remediation of hazardous waste can still pose risks. The best way to deal with hazardous waste is preventing it in the first place.

  1. Identification

    • Before you can consider hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal you must first identify that a product is in fact hazardous waste. This can be tricky because of the broad definition of hazardous waste: any waste that can cause death or injury if not disposed of properly. In general, a hazardous waste includes, but is not limited to, anything that is corrosive, flammable, toxic or reactive.

    Function

    • The main objective when treating, storing or disposing of hazardous waste is to decrease any risks or dangers the waste may have to the environment or public health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Treatment is always desired for hazardous waste; it can reduce the amount of waste or make it safer for storing and disposal.

    Treatment and Disposal

    • Burning hazardous waste in an incinerator is one of the most common methods to treat hazardous waste. This reduces the volume of waste and destroys harmful components. However, this is only good for biological material, and may still produce hazardous pollutants. Hazardous waste that cannot be reduced or deactivated, such as metals, are often stored in landfills under strict monitoring by the EPA.

    Storage

    • Storage is the intermediary stage between treatment and disposal, according to EPA regulations. One of the most the used storage facilities for hazardous waste is a 55 gallon drum. Sometimes dangerous waste is simply stored in large piles with lining underneath to prevent toxins from leaching into the ground. Storage tanks, essentially just metal holding cells, are another popular option.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Toxic wastes produced from households are not regulated by the EPA due to practicality reasons. You can take some measures to reduce hazardous with a few habit changes and tips from the EPA. First, learn about products around the home that contain dangerous chemicals. Light bulbs often use lethal mercury than might leak if broken in a landfill. Also, consider buying products that will last a long time vs. one-time use products like Styrofoam cups.

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