Ten Sources of Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is any waste product that poses a threat to public health or the environment. Substances that are ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic are considered hazardous. Each year, hundreds of millions of metric tons of hazardous waste are produced in the United States alone.
Hazardous waste comes from many different sources. Here are ten of them:
1. Metal manufacturers – Practically any manufacturing operation that works with metals produces some sort of hazardous waste. Some of the waste products produced include solvents, pickling solutions, plating waste, cyanide, paint washes and wastewater sludge.
2. Medical facilities – The majority of biological and infectious waste comes from hospitals and doctor’s offices. Examples include used needles, bloody bandages and removed organs. But those aren’t the only hazards that come from medical facilities. Radioactive waste is produced by various imaging technologies and treatments. And while discarded medicine is not generally considered hazardous waste, it is essential that it be properly disposed of.
3. Gas stations – Before leaded gas was phased out, gasoline was a major contributor to lead in the environment. Underground fuel storage tanks have also had an adverse impact on the environment due to leakage. Today’s regulations have greatly reduced these concerns, but older gas station tanks could still pose a hazard.
4. Dry cleaners – Dry cleaners use a number of hazardous solvents to clean our clothing. The used chemicals, and any filters, rags or other items that come into contact with them, are considered hazardous waste.
5. Photo processors – Fixing solutions used in photo processing are hazardous. They often contain silver, which is harmful to aquatic life. Silver can also adversely affect the biological action of sewage treatment plants. Some fixing solutions are also corrosive.
6. Agriculture – Some farmers avoid the use of dangerous chemicals in the production of food, but most use them on a daily basis. Pesticides and herbicides are applied to protect crops, and fluoride waste is created during fertilizer production.
7. Remodeling – Lead paint is often present in older buildings. When painted surfaces are torn down, hazardous waste is created. Asbestos, fluorescent bulbs and equipment that contains mercury may also be present, especially in non-residential buildings.
8. Garages and auto body shops – There are lots of hazardous chemicals used in garage and auto body work. Some of these include antifreeze, gas, oil and paint.
9. Laboratories – From high school chemistry labs to research facilities, laboratories are virtually synonymous with hazardous waste. Disinfectants, solvents and chemicals used in testing are some of the dangerous waste you might find in a lab.
10. Our homes – You probably don’t think of your home as a source of hazardous waste, but chances are it is. Most of us use cleaners that are corrosive, reactive or flammable. We keep chemicals for use in our vehicles. And we have electronic devices that contain lead, mercury and other dangerous substances. These are just a few of the potential types of hazardous waste found in the home.
These are only some of the places hazardous waste can come from. When you think about it, hazardous waste is just about everywhere. Cutting down on the use of hazardous materials and disposing of those that we do use properly is essential to our health, as well as that of the environment
