Knowing how to properly dispose of hazardous waste is a must for both citizens and entrepreneurs, because they can be potentially harmful to human and animal health, as well as to the environment. Hazardous waste can be found in solid, liquid, gaseous or sludge form, and comes from products such as fluid waste from cleaning, by-product manufacturing, fertilizers, light bulbs, swimming pool chemicals, paints and thinners, insecticides and others technological objects.
Steps
Step 1. Consider waste reduction as a disposal system
Many industries are looking for ways to reduce the amount of chemicals that are used in processing in order to decrease the amount of hazardous waste that is produced. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there may be several approaches to do this:
- Low impact production
- Energy recovery
- Environmental Management Systems
- Environmentally friendly chemistry
Step 2. Reuse and recycle potentially hazardous materials
- Many items that could potentially become hazardous materials can be recycled or recovered; in some cases it is a process that recovers what remains of the usable product.
- Some remanufactured products include recovery of acetone from spent solvents and lead from metals.
- Zinc can be recovered from melting furnaces.
- Used oil, hydraulic fluids, refrigerant gases and other substances can be recovered from cars and refrigerators.
- Batteries can also be recycled.
Step 3. Take the material to be disposed of to a licensed landfill
These landfills provide for the burial and controlled accumulation of a lot of waste. These areas, which follow strict regulations, were created specifically to protect the families living in the surroundings, as well as aiming at minimizing the environmental impact resulting from the disposal of hazardous waste.
Step 4. Keep up to date with permissions
In Italy the legislation is rather complex; it is necessary to follow regional and state regulations, as well as European ones. If you have a company you have to fill out the MUD every year, the report of the waste that is produced by the processes, and the controls are very strict. Verify that you have all the eligibility requirements and that you are disposing of them correctly, so that the waste follows the right path of treatment, storage and regular disposal. The permits are issued by the bodies in charge. Check with your region, or do a search for the regulations for the specific type of your waste.
Step 5. Find out which collection centers are available in your community or area
- Most municipal or regional websites can tell you where to contact or which facility you need to contact in the case of hazardous waste disposal.
- Some cities have special collection facilities.
- Companies may have their own storage sites, and some hazardous household waste may qualify for special disposal.
- Sometimes some local realities organize special days in which they plan a large collection of hazardous waste.
