So far,
we have only discussed waste treatment options for MSW, or municipal solid
waste. But there are many other types of waste that must be considered when
discussing waste management. One of the most important of these wastes is
hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is any waste that poses a threat to public
health or the environment. These wastes cannot initially be disposed of by
regular methods like landfills, incineration, or recycling, and must be stored
or treated to decrease their harm to the environment. Some hazardous wastes
must be stored for very long periods of times, even thousands of years, until
they can be recycled or sent to a landfill. Today we are going to discuss the
misconceptions of hazardous waste, some examples, the possible treatments of
hazardous waste, and the correct ways to disposed of household hazardous wastes.
There are many misconceptions about
hazardous waste, many of which I had before doing some extensive research. One
of the biggest misconceptions of hazardous waste it that it only comes from big
factories and power plants, and I thought this was true too. Hazardous wastes
can come from factories and processing plants, but a large portion also comes
from households, auto shops, drycleaners, and even art shops. I’ll discuss how
each of these places contributes to hazardous waste later. Another
misconception about hazardous waste is that it remains dangerous forever and
cannot ever be disposed of in landfills or incinerators. This is not
necessarily true. Many hazardous wastes can be stored and treated until their
hazard is no longer present. This then allows the substance to be disposed of
in a regular landfill or incinerator.
Now
that we know some of the misconceptions of hazardous waste, it is important to
know some examples of what hazardous waste is. Hazardous waste is divided into
many different categories based on their characteristics, but I am just going
to outline the most important ones. A large source of hazardous waste is sludge
from wastewater treatment plants. Sludge is a semisolid material that is a byproduct
of sewage treatment. Additionally, household cleaners and degreasers are also
considered hazardous waste. Many paints and paint wash waters are hazardous as
well because they are flammable. Also, photographic processing wastes that
contain silver (used in the development of film) are hazardous as well. Pesticides
are also hazardous. Batteries, thermometers, and automotive fluids, like
antifreeze and motor oil, are all hazardous materials. Finally, many dry-cleaning
wastes are hazardous because they are flammable. There are many other forms of
hazardous wastes, but these are common items that most people would be familiar
with. As you can see, the list of hazardous wastes that you come in contact
with on a daily basis is substantial and cause for concern.
There
are many options for disposal of hazardous wastes. One manner of disposal is
treatment and disposal. Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities are areas
that house hazardous materials after they have been treated. Here, wastes are
altered through incineration or oxidation to change their chemical makeup.
Then, the treated waste is stored for a short amount of time, then disposed of,
usually at a landfill or incinerator, where strict precautions are taken to
regulate pollution. These facilities treat and manage large amounts of waste
and are highly regulated by the EPA. Contrary to normal disposal, hazardous
wastes can also be recycled. Hazardous materials are not recycled in ways that
plastics, paper, and metals are recycled. Hazardous materials are recycled if
they are reclaimed, meaning that they are modified to be used for a different
task other than their original use, or if they are reused. There are different
manners of recycling many different products, so explaining them would be
difficult. This method is useful because it prevents more precious metals and
other chemicals from having to be extracted from the earth.
Last
but not least, it is very important for you to learn about how you can properly
dispose of household hazardous materials. The first and most important rule
about managing household hazardous waste is DO NOT POUR HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS DOWN
THE DRAIN. Pouring hazardous liquids like paints, cleaners, oils, and
pesticides will contaminate the sewage system and can cause harm to sanitation
workers. This action also has the possibility of harming the environment and
human health if the toxic chemicals reach bodies of water or sources of
drinking water. Finally, pouring liquids down the drain causes the wastewater
treatment plants to expend more energy to treat the water that comes in from
households, which is a cause for more fossil fuels. The next important step in
hazardous waste disposal is to check and read the labels on the packaging and
make sure to follow instructions. Next comes actual disposal of the waste. Some
cities offer hazardous waste curbside pickup. Others provide year-round
collections sites in your area. If your city does not offer hazardous waste
disposal, some local businesses, like auto garages, will accept hazardous
wastes, like motor oil. Also, make sure you write your representatives
encouraging them to start to offer these services. The final way you can aid in
the disposal of hazardous wastes is to simply use them less often. Try to find alternative
cleaning and polishing products that are natural and safe for the environment.
Just
like e-wastes, it is surprising that so many people do not know about the
dangers that this type of waste can have. We all run into these items very
frequently and many people don’t think about what happens to them when they are
disposed of with normal garbage. I urge you to make positive changes in your household
to decrease the dangers of these items and to ultimately save the planet.
Stay Sustainable,
Shelby
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