Chemical waste disposal is a complex process commonly requiring a professional waste management team like Cleanway. This has to do with the many complex and potentially hazardous factors involved.
In this blog, we try to answer many people’s questions regarding chemical waste and disposal. We touch on numerous related waste types, such as hazardous and household waste. Both fall under general hazardous waste management.
We hope for this to be a guide for anyone interested in finding out more about such waste disposal techniques. Hopefully it will lead to further blogs in this style, where we address other significant issues and frequently asked questions.
What is chemical waste disposal?
Commonly chemical wastes can be classified as hazardous waste, but this is not always the case. For this reason it is essential to be in contact with a team of professional waste management experts like Cleanway.
How to Safely Dispose of Household Chemical Waste
The best way to safely dispose of any household chemical waste is through the local waste management channels which might include municipal landfills and dumpsites.
Additionally, most chemical substances that cannot be safely disposed of at home are required to bare some kind of warning label, so be sure to check this before you begin any disposal.
What is the best method for getting rid of hazardous chemical waste?
This all depends on the substance and the nature of the specific chemicals at hand. Disposing of hazardous chemical waste is something that we explore in other blogs.
As a general rule, the best method is one where minimal harm is caused to any surrounding environments or to human health. This can be best minimised by contacting a waste management company like Cleanway.
Can I throw chemical waste in the regular rubbish?
No. Chemical waste can seriously threaten health and the environment and should never be thrown away carelessly.
In most instances, hazardous areas must be sanitised using pre-defined hazardous waste collection points or some specialised methods carried out by local authorities or waste management services.
How do I dispose of Industrial Chemical Waste?
Disposing of industrial waste of any form is often a problem for companies that work with these materials. They should have a managing system in place.
If you work in such an environment, be sure to contact a waste management company to help you set up a waste management system that best aligns with your specific waste needs and waste.
Why is Chemical Waste Disposal Important?
The importance of proper chemical waste disposal relates to the general importance of safe and efficient waste management systems. In short, they are in place because they promote safety.
When it comes to chemical waste, disposal is of utmost importance due to the sometimes toxic nature of these hazardous materials and do to the many different forms that they can come in.
Are there recyclables in chemical waste?
This depends on the specific chemical waste in question, but it is very likely. Recyclable materials are common in many different materials.
A waste management company is best suited to assess the types of recyclable materials that might be present. What’s more, recycling these materials helps to promore good environmental best practices.
Can I combine different types of chemical wastes?
Combining waste types is almost always a bad idea if you do not have the expertise needed to do so safely. This is why there are concepts like waste segregation and separation.
Additionally, different chemical waste often come in different waste types. Combining liquid chemical waste with its solid counterpart is dangerous due to the risk of an emergency spill scenario.
What is the difference between hazardous and non-hazardous chemical waste?
Non-hazardous chemical waste still poses some danger; however, it can be managed with proper monitoring.
How can I dispose of used paint in an environmentally friendly way?
Communicate with a local paint recycling programme or hazardous waste facility to get rid of used paint properly. Most cities have unused and leftover paint collections for take-back programmes or drop-off paint events.
Never pour paint down the sink or throw it in the rubbish. Our blog on soil contamination explores this further.
What are the risks of improper chemical waste disposal?
The risks of improper chemical waste disposal vary, but there are some obvious one that should be noted. But, in short, contamination is the biggest risk.
This also includes the potential harm that incorrect disposal of chemical substances can have on human health. The last thing that anyone wants it to get sick from poor disposal.
What are the Environmental Risks?
These vary from small to large. Most people luckily have a general understanding that contamination is bad and is only made worse by improper disposal.
But it should be noted that these risks can be quite difficult to measure. Having a trained team to assess the situation will provide the best advice and guidance depending on the situation.
What methods do you use to store chemical waste before disposal?
Commonly, waste storage containers are used. These vary according to the type of chemical waste as well as the amount of waste in question.
For example, there is no real point in storing liquid chemical waste in an open skip bin, much like oils wouldn’t be stored with water.
What are the safety measures to be taken when dealing with chemical waste?
Always use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE): gloves, goggles, lab coats, etc. This is just a must when it comes to managing hazardous and chemical waste.
Do not forget to work in ventilated spaces and follow safety rules. Additionally be in contact with an emergency spill response team in case of an emergency.
Can I pour chemicals down the drain?
Not, do not. This is the same as incorrectly disposing of household chemicals because they are often toxic chemicals. In short, they need proper disposal through the correct means.
Pouring chemicals down a drain can cause both clogs to the drainage systems as well as contamination down the line.
What should I do if I spill chemical waste?
Enact an emergency spill plan, something Cleanway has written extensively on in a number of blogs.
Trained specialist chemists accept toxic chemicals as potentially risks. Many already have chemical spill plans in place
How can I throw away the cleaning products that have chemicals in them?
Cleaning products with chemicals should be thrown away like one would throw away hazardous waste. Never pour them down a drain or toss them in the bin.
Certain areas may have individual programmes or even collection days for hazardous waste, such as cleaning products, so check if your area has them. Ask your waste management service for clear answers.
How much time can I store chemical waste before disposing of the trash?
The type of waste, whether liquid or solid, dictates how long one can store chemical waste and their local laws. In general, try to minimise how long they are stored to lower the risks of leaks, reactions, or contamination if the waste is not adequately sealed.
Research local environmental regulations to check if there is a maximum storage period while taking suitable measures.
How much will it cost to throw out chemical waste?
What dictates how much chemical waste costs is the type, volume, how it will be disposed of, and the area’s local laws.
Many areas will have local laws in place that may cause various expenses, including transportation safety and dealing with hazardous waste. For the best answers regarding your needs, consult a licensed disposal service.
Can anyone throw away chemical waste without seeking external help?
Like with most waste management systems, people have the perception that they know what they are doing. They might get away with it at times, but chemical waste is far less forgiving.
Is there a difference in disposal methods for solids and liquid chemical waste?
Yes and no, there are some differences between disposing of solid waste and liquid chemical waste, but there are general principles that underlie both.
Safety is probably the biggest similarity due to it being a major concern. The main difference has to do with their obviously different physical properties.
What is the best method of disposing of chemical batteries?
Luckily, most batteries can be disposed of at municipal waste disposal centres where they will be safely managed.
Is chemical waste disposal more or less the same across different industries?
Not really. As mentioned previously, chemical waste disposal is unique to each industry. Unlike the rest, the healthcare sector, manufacturing businesses, and laboratories create waste that can only be disposed of in specific ways.
Appropriate standards and measures are adjusted according to the components. Each industry has to adhere to the applicable federal, state, and local waste management regulations.
What can I do to dispose of chemical waste generated in my laboratory?
Laboratory chemical waste, and often medical waste for that matter, poses risks that household chemical waste does not. They need specialised systems.
If you find yourself frequently working with these chemical substances, then it is worthwhile getting hold of a waste management company to set up specific and actionable plans.
Can I get rid of chemical waste in my local recycling bin?
No. Recycling bins are for recycling. While chemical waste can be recycled, those green bins on the side of the road rarely do the trick.
Rather, if you are interested in chemical waste recycling, then get into contact with a team of waste professionals who can help you do so safely and effectively.
How can I get rid of expired cleaning products in a safe way?
Most of the time, expired cleaning products will give you this information on their packaging. These plans will likely align with the correct disposal method.
If this does not exist, then rather follow caution, even if it means that the waste disposal is not as effective as it could have been.
Can I rest assured that chemical waste can be disposed of in my garage properly?
Most municipal waste centres, particularly in modern Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne, have safe chemical waste disposal systems in place to ensure this.
If you really want to be sure that your household chemicals are being disposed of correctly, then consider contacting a waste management team like Cleanway.
Can I sell or donate expired chemicals?
Not if you do not know what you are doing due to the many risks involved in this process. Chemicals are well known to be hazardous, so they might not be worth the extra money.
Additionally, to avoid this, many regulations are in place to limit the transport, and especially the sale, of chemicals.
What is the definition of contamination in chemical waste?
Contamination is a relatively loose term to define, but there are a number of things that can be called contaminated. We explore it quite extensively here.
In general, something becomes contaminated when it no longer contains a majority of natural substances.
Is it possible to keep hazardous waste for some time before I dispose of it?
It is entirely possible so long as it is safely storage, transported, and handled. As soon as something might go wrong, then it is unsafe.
The biggest risk is contamination due to the potential for harm of both humans and the surrounding environment.
Do schools have access to specialised chemical waste disposal services?
Many schools and universities will have access to specialised disposal services and systems, especially if they have been working with these substances for a long time.
Most of these systems are designed to both educate the learners while still being safe. They are also there to help train learners in safe chemical waste disposal.
How do I dispose of fertilisers and pesticides I do not intend to use?
Disposing of this type of chemical waste should be done in tandem with some kind of waste management company like Cleanway.
These companies bring their unique expertise to the problem which in turn ensures that safely protocols are upheld and that disasters are unlikely.
Is it possible to transform chemical waste into something less dangerous before it is destroyed?
Yes, like with all waste types, they can be transformed through various methods. There are different names for this, like resource recovery, or simply recycling.
When it comes to chemical waste, there are of course hazards. This means that the transformation process needs to be done by someone with the correct knowledge.
What information sources exist on the subject of chemical waste disposal?
Such resources include government websites, NGOs, and safety training programmes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other local regulators offer recommendations, and professional disposal companies provide guidance.
Additionally, the Cleanway blog frequently discusses topics relevant to waste management.