Not all types of waste are created equal. Some are particularly dangerous to the environment and health and are aptly called hazardous materials.
Hazardous wastes are defined as both unused or leftover parts of chemicals and other substances (in whatever state or form) that can be reactive, corrosive, toxic, and flammable. Most are easy to spot since they bear warning signs sometimes in their labels and boxes.
How Hazardous Wastes Damage Health and Environment
A professional hazardous waste disposal is incredibly important for the following reasons:
- These type of wastes can end up in the sewage system and on the ground, where they can leak and contaminate the land and the water supply.
- They can cause injury and expose unknowing persons to health harm. A good example is when somebody steps on a broken light bulb or mirror.
- They can make your area unsustainable. An accumulation of dangerous chemicals within an area may make the land unfit for planting and even living. Children who are exposed to places with high levels of harmful substances like mercury or lead are vulnerable to long-term health issues including neurological damage.
These wastes therefore should be avoided as much as possible. The problem is, on the other end, humans end up producing them simply because they are necessary.
Can you imagine living in a home without lights and mirrors? Can you take care of yourself when you are sick without medications?
Although people now have other options that can significantly minimize the production of these toxic wastes like living off the grid, humans tend to continue creating them because they make lives more convenient and comfortable.
These wastes can simply be by-products of regular activities and practices. When a nurse draws blood from an arm as part of a medical test, the cotton and syringe used are now considered part of the medical waste, which is also a type of hazardous waste.
What One Can Do
At the moment, humans cannot afford to ignore and make these wastes. However, there are multiple ways to decrease exposure and production, as well as preserve health and environment.
When it comes to hazardous waste-and all types of wastes for that matter-the soundest advice is to reduce dependency, exposure, and contamination as much as possible. Begin with the following:
- Do not drain liquids in the sink, on the ground, or the storm drain.
- Prevent children and pets from getting hold of these wastes.
- Coordinate with your community and the city for collection and drop-off.
- If you are a business that produces hazardous wastes, then pay attention to stricter rules on disposal of these wastes, including how much wastes one can produce.
- Call a professional and licensed hazardous waste disposal team to deal with the wastes, although some of them may specialize in storage, collection, and transportation.
Nevertheless, many of these companies do more than collect the trash. They can also now offer training and support to ensure there will be less confusion on how to classify and dispose the trash.