Emptying chemical bottles doesn’t seem so difficult. In many homes and businesses, chemical waste is disposed of this way.
Emptying chemical bottles doesn’t seem so difficult. In many homes and businesses, chemical waste is disposed of this way. However, this approach is dangerous to people and animals and harmful to the environment as well. Here are some reasons why chemical waste should never be put down the drain of your sink.
The Question of Hazardous Waste
Before we can continue, we should examine the question of hazardous waste. In other words, what exactly is it? Four main traits define this substance: toxicity, reactivity, corrosivity, and flammability. Although many business owners and homeowners might think, chemical waste and hazardous waste aren’t always the same material. Why is this case? Not all chemicals are harmful, but all of them can affect the environment, especially when they interact with anything else along the way.
Pouring Away is Poor Management
Pouring any materials that are potentially hazardous to human health is always a terrible decision. Plus, this is not the right way to dispose of or otherwise destroy them. By protecting the environment and keeping waterways clean, we can ensure that these resources will still be usable by future generations. So what should stay out of the drain? Here is just a shortlist:
- Sludgy waste, solid waste, or viscous waste
- Medical waste and other biohazards
- Anything radioactive or corrosive
- Latex and oil paints
- Processing chemicals used for x-rays or photographs
- Oil and grease
Effects on the Environment: Short-Term
Chemical residue can have profound impacts on the environment. Pollution of any type can ruin the quality of air, water, and soil and poison the animals that depend on these resources. The EPA has pursued 37 criminal cases just in 2019 against companies who have been illegally dumping waste. Water becomes too polluted to be safely used, and contamination can affect the health of all humans, animals, and plants that need it, as in the crisis at Flint, Michigan, or the drought in California.
Effects on the Environment: Long-Term
Too much pollution and chemical waste can have more devastating effects that might take years or decades to play out. Some of these consequences include cancer, mercury, and lead poisoning, random mutations, ozone depletion, and insect populations declining.
WE CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL AND TRAINING. CONTACT US TODAY!
No matter what kind of environmental issue you may have, AEG Environmental can help. We handle every situation with care, dedication, and a commitment to exemplary customer service. When you have an emergency, you can rely on us! Need training? We can handle that too! We train in a wide variety of environmental management areas so that your company can remain compliant with EPA, DOT, and OSHA. Make sure to check out our blog for the latest and greatest in the waste management world! You should also follow us on social media for updates.
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