If your business generates hazardous waste, you should understand the importance of safe handling to protect your employees and the environment from potential harm. Unlike other waste, hazardous materials require special care when handled.
Federal and local government regulations require specific ways of handling, transporting, and disposing of hazardous waste; companies that fail to comply with these rules face heavy financial penalties and other punishments.
To avoid potential regulatory issues, we’ve compiled a list of five best practices for material handling that ensure your business stays in compliance.
Regulations for Handling Hazardous Waste
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act governs the handling of hazardous materials on the federal level, while state governments handle it on a local level.
Using this framework, the Environmental Protection Agency instituted the Cradle-to-Grave Hazardous Waste Management Program, which is a set of regulations that ensure hazardous waste is treated properly from “time it is created, while it is transported, treated, and stored, and until it is disposed of.”
The United States Department of Transportation and the EPA developed regulations for transporting hazardous waste.
Identifying Hazardous Waste
The EPA defines hazardous waste as “waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of hurting human health or the environment.”
To assist generators with identifying hazardous waste, the government developed a chart with questions designed to simplify the process.
There are four main questions:
- Is the material in question a solid waste?
- Is the material excluded from the definition of solid waste or hazardous waste?
- Is the waste a listed or characteristic hazardous waste?
- Is the waste delisted?
Once the waste is identified as solid waste, generators must see if it is a listed or characteristic hazardous waste.
Generator Compliance
Hazardous waste generators must follow several key steps to comply with regulations, including identifying their waste, counting it to determine their generator category (Very Small Quantity Generators, Small Quantity Generators, or Large Quantity Generators), and managing their waste in accordance with applicable regulations.
This includes obtaining an EPA ID number, managing waste on-site according to standards, and ensuring the proper packaging, labeling, and documentation for transportation.
For a complete list of compliance requirements, refer to the summary table courtesy of the EPA.
Local and State Hazardous Waste Regulations
Each state has its regulations regarding hazardous waste. If you have any questions, it’s best to contact your local government or speak with a trusted hazardous waste disposal company with experience in your area.
Dangers of Improper Hazardous Waste Handling
When it comes to the dangers of improper handling of hazardous waste and materials, you want to consider two aspects.
- How improper hazardous waste handling negatively affects the environment and people’s health.
- How improper hazardous waste handling affects your business, whether it’s fines or penalties.
Effects of Improper Hazardous Materials Handling on the Environment
Improper handling of hazardous waste impacts the air, water, soil quality, and biodiversity.
Leaks, spills, and improper disposal all lead to environmental contamination, which affects the lifespan of wildlife, the safety of water, and numerous other environmental emergencies.
Toxic chemicals can seep into the ground, polluting the soil and potentially entering groundwater or surface water bodies. This contamination affects the immediate vicinity and spreads over larger areas, impacting the quality of drinking water sources and aquatic ecosystems.
Hazardous substances in water bodies harm aquatic life, disrupt food chains, and lead to declining fish populations.
A 2019 Chicago Tribune and Associated Press report indicated that “millions of gallons of water loaded with arsenic, lead, and other toxic metals flow from some of the most contaminated mining sites in the U.S. and into surrounding streams and ponds without being treated.”
As a result, well water was contaminated, children had elevated lead levels in their blood, and many fish were killed.
When burned or exposed to the elements, certain types of waste release toxic gasses and particulates, contributing to air pollution and posing health risks to nearby populations.
When released into the atmosphere, these hazardous wastes contribute to climate change by increasing the concentration of greenhouse gasses.
Working with a trusted hazardous waste disposal company helps alleviate the stress of handling hazardous waste and protecting the environment.
Improper Handling of Hazardous Waste Penalties
According to federal regulations, if “a Person Knowingly Transports, treats, stores, disposes of, or exports a hazardous waste in violation of 42 U.S.C. 6928(d)(1) – (7) and; Knew that such acts put another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury,” then they are potentially penalized with 15 years in jail and/or up to $250,000 or $1,000,000.
In 2023, the EPA cited 95 different entities for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA), “for inadequate Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, as well as towns and cities for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit violations.”
These fines totaled $840,417 and ranged from $656 to $220,000.
Please refer to the EPA’s guidelines for a complete list of criminal provisions related to the RCRA.
5 Best Practices for Handling Hazardous Materials
Follow these five best practices for handling hazardous materials to avoid penalties, fines, and endangering the environment.
1. Understand the Hazardous Materials You Use
The first step in safe handling is understanding the materials used in the workplace.
What substances are used, what are the potential hazards, and what are the uses for each material?
What must employees know before moving, touching, or storing the material?
When company management understands the risks and types of waste that employees could encounter, it becomes easier to assess the risks involved and develop a strategy to handle those materials safely.
2. Label Hazardous Waste Containers Properly
All hazardous materials must be appropriately labeled and stored in the correct container. Something that isn’t stored correctly could leak or corrode the containers. Proper labeling and abiding by those labels ensure employees always know what they’re handling.
Proper labeling and storage require staff to clean up the work area as soon as they are finished using a substance. A clean work area reduces the chance of an accidental spill involving a hazardous substance.
3. Ensure Safe Storage of Hazardous Materials
Safe storage of hazardous waste comes down to clear communication between management and staff. Creating an action plan allows the initial storage of materials to be correctly labeled and stay in line with regulatory policies. The intended purpose of regulatory policies is to maintain a safe place of work for your employees.
Ensure all hazardous materials can be safely stored in a ventilated dry area away from others. All employees should be able to maintain clean work surfaces and keep them away from hazardous waste.
4. Train Your Employees
It’s not enough to use signage to educate employees; you must train them in the safe handling of hazardous materials. Established protocols are a good starting point, but you must also plan ahead for the unexpected. Train employees in emergency procedures, including what to do in a variety of emergency types involving hazardous materials, including medical emergencies.
Make training a priority at your place of work regarding the safe handling of materials. More importantly, training should be revisited annually so that staff always know what to do to stay safe. Employees should clearly understand reporting procedures and how to perform their job duties.
5. Continue to Manage Storage Areas Carefully
Hazardous waste regulations mandate that central storage areas be maintained properly. If your organization overlooks this, it could face steep fines from regulators.
Best practices for storage areas recommend a dry, cool area with adequate ventilation. Containers should be kept lids on at all times, hazardous waste should be labeled, and all materials should be properly stored.
Review how hazardous materials are stored, used, and handled at your organization and make any necessary changes to align your organization’s policies with safe materials handling. Then, review the issue periodically to ensure staff members are keeping up with regulations. Regular check-ins can prevent recurring problems with hazardous waste storage.
Need Assistance with Hazardous Material Disposal? HWH Environmental is Here to Help.
HWH Environmental works with hazardous waste generators across the United States. Our responsive customer support team answers your questions and assists in customizing your hazardous waste disposal solutions.
To dispose of your hazardous waste, contact HWH Environmental today.
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