Hazardous waste disposal and even non-hazardous waste disposal is subject to a large number of state and federal regulations. It can be difficult to keep up with regulations and new standards that created to protect the environment and require full compliance, or risk expensive fines and clean-up fees.
Many hazardous waste generators, especially those that create smaller or intermittent hazardous waste, simply look for the best short term solution. Those include storing up smaller amounts of hazardous waste, having internal employees handle hazardous waste disposal, or simply waiting until the amount of hazardous waste is so large it’s interrupting workspace or workflow.
What most of these organizations don’t realize is the time and money that can be saved by utilizing a hazardous waste disposal company. Most hazardous waste generators actually benefit from streamlining disposal of hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste and their by-products. Read on to see how your current methods could be putting your company at risk.
Risk of Handling Hazardous Waste Disposal Internally
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides extensive definitions or descriptions of hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials, types of waste generation, methods of proper disposal and compliance standards.
For a person who has many other work responsibilities, reading and trying to understand all of these requirements can be a nightmare. You’re also placing the responsibility of your company in the hands of someone who is untrained in this area, and opening yourself to potential fines and other expenses if these requirements aren’t met.
Changing Regulations and Standards
Having your employees try to keep up with changing regulations and updated compliance standards is a losing proposition. It wastes their time, interrupts your core workflow, and decreases morale. An employee is more likely to feel that this extra responsibility (which is usually outside of their core skill set) is unpleasant and puts them at the bottom of the totem pole, and will probably avoid it until absolutely necessary.
Properly licensed, experienced hazardous waste disposal companies can make sure job is done properly and full compliance with state and federal regulations.
Challenges for Hazardous Waste Generators
Improper handling of hazardous waste and non-hazardous waste:
- Can endanger employees
- Lower employee morale
- Increase liability of business
- Cost significant amount of money in fines and cleanup fees
Regularly Removing Hazardous Waste Costs Less
Companies that store hazardous waste and decide to not remove it regularly end up costing more, simply because:
- It takes up valuable space
- Interrupts workflow process
- Costs more to remove a large amount of hazardous waste at one time than smaller amounts regularly
Many organizations are shocked at the price they have to pay once they finally decide to remove it. Letting hazardous waste build up and decay creates more issues with its removal, which makes it more expensive. The sooner hazardous waste is removed, the less expensive it is for your company.
Improperly Stored Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste that is improperly stored outside your building carries risk of contamination to the area around it. The cost of cleaning it up properly, as well as potential fines are much higher than the initial investment to remove the hazardous waste material in the first place.
Exposure to hazardous waste can be dangerous to your employees. This puts your company at risk in a couple significant ways:
- If you are breaking OSHA regulations, you run the risk of hefty fines and potential lawsuits
- If an employee gets sick or incurs a medical condition from exposure to the hazardous waste material, you are potentially on the hook for medical expenses and a possible lawsuit.
- In daily operations, you may experience higher levels of employees being out sick after repeated exposure to the hazardous waste. The smell of stored waste products can easily permeate a wide area, which makes employees want to avoid the area, lower productivity and overall lower morale.
How Hazardous Waste Disposal Companies Can Help Your Organization
- Extensive knowledge and experience in handling hazardous and non-hazardous waste
- Complete understanding of compliance and regulations that apply to your company
- Ability to create comprehensive waste disposal plan to meet your company’s requirements
- Makes sure you are protected against liability through proper disposal techniques
- Can create schedule and regular disposal of many levels of hazardous waste removal
In order to get a free quote, or to learn more about hazardous waste disposal for your organization, please contact HWH Environmental at 1-877-777-6708.
