If you run a business that uses or creates dangerous chemicals, you could be fined and closed down if you fail to dispose of it properly. While most countries have their own rules and procedures in place, this article will focus on those elements considered equally as important, regardless of where you are in the world, and which authority you fall under. There are very good reasons for these rules and procedures, most of which relate to environmental impact. So, don’t be a fool, and always ensure you have plans in place to deal with any dangerous chemicals you may have on site.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no health and safety executive, and I don’t work for the environment agency. I just have a large interest in keeping this planet’s ecosystem in check. At the end of the day, if we cause irreversible damage, it’s our own children and grandchildren who will be left here to suffer the consequences. I’m sure you’ll agree, that fact alone makes all the precautions and extra expenses worthwhile.
So, here’s how you should go about disposing of all your chemical waste…
Labeling The Containers
All the waste you product must be placed into suitable containers that will not become eroded by their contents. These containers then need to be labeled properly so that firms who deal with the transportation of unsafe goods know exactly what their employees are carrying at all times. There are many obvious reasons why this is important, but mainly it’s due to the fact that some chemicals can react with each other, and so they’re never transported using the same vehicles.
Limiting The Amount Of Waste
Most chemical waste disposal companies will ask you to avoid filling your containers past around ?, and this is so there’s less chances of them leaking during transport. Also, they tend to ask you to collect waste in containers no bigger than four liters. Obviously, this isn’t possible in some circumstances, and so you must make arrangements to use larger, thirty gallon containers if the waste you produce is of a significant quantity. Remember, all these precautions are for your own benefit, and they’re simply designed to make the process as safe as possible.
Avoiding Glass Containers
While some chemical waste disposal experts will allow you to use glass containers in special circumstances, most will expect you to avoid them wherever possible. However, in circumstances where glass is absolutely essential, you need to pack it tightly in cardboard boxes with lots of padding to limit the chances of cracks or smashes during the journey.
Just remember, the most important thing you can do is find a reputable business who specialise in transporting and disposing of any dangerous chemicals your firm may use. Make sure you ask for a full run down of everything they expect from you, and everything should be fine. Once the chemicals have left your premises in their lorries, it’s no longer your responsibility and anything that goes wrong after that should be none of your concern.
So, let’s save the planet together one step at a time!
