The United States manages an estimated 35 million tons of hazardous materials annually, with the average household contributing 30lbs per year. From 2001-2019, data highlights that most hazardous waste contains wastewater (wastes containing a large amount of water). Wastewater is most-often generated from chemical manufacturing and the petroleum and coal products manufacturing industry. Other hazardous
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Hazardous Waste Handling Tips for Lab Techs
If not handled properly, laboratory hazardous waste poses significant risks to health, safety, and the environment. When breaking down lab waste, there are four main categories: chemicals, biological materials, radioactive substances, and sharps. For a safe lab, recognizing the different types of hazardous waste and how to handle them is the first step towards proper
... Continue ReadingWhat’s the Difference Between Combustible and Flammable Materials?
According to the EPA, while combustible and flammable liquids are classified differently, they both fall under the category of ignitable hazardous waste. That means you must follow specific regulations and guidelines for storing, organizing, and disposing of these materials. To help you understand the difference between combustible and flammable liquids, our guide identifies their differing
... Continue Reading5 Best Practices for Handling Hazardous Materials Safely
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
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With everything else happening on a construction site, the last thing you need is an EPA inspector finding broken hazardous waste regulations. Depending on the project, demolitions and renovations often interact with various hazardous materials (some to the environment, some to your employees). This guide to handling hazardous waste on construction sites helps you identify
... Continue ReadingGuide to Glycol Disposal
While everyone is familiar with the need for antifreeze to keep their car’s engines at the right temperature, did you know that the same ingredients are used in HVAC systems to protect your system from temperature fluctuations? We are talking about the main ingredient of antifreeze, glycol. Available in two primary forms, ethylene glycol, and
... Continue ReadingWhat Do You Do with Expired and Leftover Beer?
Businesses, breweries, and stadiums go through gallons of beer every year. But what happens to expired and leftover beer? Because of its ingredients, you cannot pour it down the drain or into any bodies of water as it will cause environmental damage. This has left businesses and breweries with the daunting task of managing millions
... Continue ReadingAll About Landfills: Uses, Types, and More
Landfills are a tool used to handle the disposal of different types of waste in any industrialized society and are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When handling hazardous waste, the EPA encourages source reduction instead of landfills. However, the reality of industrial societies means that the generation of hazardous waste is
... Continue ReadingAFFF Alternatives
As a result of aqueous film forming foam being banned across the country and its slow removal from military bases, there’s been an immediate need to figure out the best alternatives to the effective fire suppressant. Despite how well it works, the dangers of aqueous film forming foam are too much with how the PFAS
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One of the most effective ways to fight fires is now one of the most dangerous to its users. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) is a type of fire suppressant made with per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Unfortunately, recent research around PFAS from the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that these substances do not break down over
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