What You Should Know About Proper Waste Management

If you operate a business, you are most likely producing waste. Waste can range from general trash and recycling to hazardous, non-hazardous, or biohazardous waste. For example, a medical facility may produce biohazardous waste, while industrial and commercial workplaces tend to produce universal waste.

It’s important to understand the differences between the types of waste your facility is creating and to ensure that you are disposing of it properly. Improper waste management can have lasting consequences on the environment, economy, and human health.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which is the principal federal law governing the disposal of “solid waste,” solid waste is defined as “any garbage or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility, and other discarded material, resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities.” Therefore, “solid waste” does not solely include physically solid materials; it encompasses solid, liquid, semi-solid, and contained gaseous materials. There are certain exclusions to this, though, and a list of wastes that are not considered solid wastes can be found on the EPA’s website.

Additionally, many states have imposed waste laws with stricter requirements than those of RCRA. In Connecticut, for example, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) regulates waste management laws for the state, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) regulates waste for the state of New York. These agencies may have different waste management requirements and protocols than the EPA.

Learn about the different types of waste in the following sections.

Hazardous Waste

The EPA defines hazardous waste as waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. There are two kinds of hazardous waste: listed and characteristic. Listed hazardous wastes are determined by the EPA and are known to be hazardous. Characteristic hazardous wastes exhibit one or more of the following properties: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. There are also state-specified regulated hazardous wastes.

Non-Hazardous Waste

Any solid waste material that is not listed or characteristic hazardous waste is considered non-hazardous. However, there are many types of non-hazardous waste, and what one state may consider to be non-hazardous, another state may not. Examples of non-hazardous waste can include glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, sludges, non-hazardous liquids such as chemicals or wastewater, furniture, and other items.

Universal Waste

The EPA identifies five categories of materials that are considered universal waste. Those are batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, lamps, and aerosol cans (note that many states still do not accept aerosol cans as universal waste). Universal waste can usually be stored for up to a year and is not subject to many hazardous waste requirements. This type of waste must still be handled in an environmentally responsible manner that prevents the release of contaminants. The exact requirements will vary depending on the waste and size of the handler.

Biohazardous/Medical Waste

Any waste that contains human or animal blood, fluids from blood products or components, or objects used in the treatment of animals or humans that may be contaminated with infectious materials is considered biohazardous. Medical waste is primarily regulated by state environmental and health departments rather than the EPA. Other federal agencies may have additional medical waste regulations.

Trash/Recycling

General refuse falls under the non-hazardous category of waste (not chemically hazardous, infectious, or otherwise contaminated), is regulated state by state, and usually originates from household-type activities. Waste like this is often disposed of like general trash and can include food scraps, glass, plastic, cardboard, metal, packaging, sanitary waste, and office waste.

Ultimately, how you must manage and handle waste will be dependent on a myriad of factors, including what jurisdiction your facility resides in and what type of waste you are handling. It is important to keep in mind that many states and local jurisdictions have different or additional requirements. Make sure you know what applies to your specific situation, as failure to comply with applicable waste management regulations could result in costly fines.

For more information about proper waste management practices, contact Walden today at 516-604-5684. Our engineers have many years of experience helping public and private organizations handle solid waste, and our EHS specialists are well-versed in managing hazardous and other regulated waste.