Sunday, February 21, 2016

The Main Options Of Hazardous Waste Disposal Edmonton Residents Should Consider

By Michael Meyer


Hazardous materials may originate from our homes or from manufacturing industries. The common types of waste that are encountered within the home setting include automotive waste such as oil, batteries, rust removers and gas. Another category is that of chemicals and cleaning agents that includes photo chemicals, household bleaches, paints and pesticides. Others include medical waste such as used needles, syringes and expired drugs. There are a number of vital things on hazardous waste disposal Edmonton residents need to know.

Hazardous materials are known to have a number of characteristics that make them very dangerous to animals, plants and the entire environment in general. A substance is considered hazardous if it is explosive, toxic, reactive, corrosive or flammable. It is expected that such properties should be clearly communicated in the form of a label by the manufacturer. Ensure that you also read and understand the instructions of disposal.

Traditionally, the main method of disposing of these types of materials has involved the use of landfills. The problem with ordinary landfills is that the materials can easily seep into the ground and reach water sources. It is now a requirement that all landfills to be used for hazardous materials contain countermeasures that prevent this unwanted effect. One of the countermeasures that can be used is incorporating a cover within the foundation.

The other option that one may consider is recycling of some materials. There are a good number of these materials that can be reused for the same purpose or put into alternative uses as long as due caution is exercised. Industrial fuels and other flammable materials are among those that are easiest to put back to use. Others include lead acid car batteries and electronic circuit boards. The ash from heavy metals can be used to fill pavements and to help get rid of other pollutants.

The use of toxic sludge as an ingredient in cement is another way of making good use of waste. The process helps improve the physical characteristics of the sludge. Solidification and stabilization processes help in reducing the levels of toxicity. Other components are usually added to make it less harmful as well as to help achieve the necessary characteristics of cement. These include, for instance, pH adjustment products, sulfur and phosphates.

Incineration is easily available in many places. The main advantage of this method is the fact that the fumes that are produced during the destruction of the waste can be used to generate energy. The fumes may escape into the environment but experts say that the negative effects attributable to them are way less than the positives associated with the entire process. Starved air incinerators are now replacing ordinary incinerators to help minimize these emissions.

There are a few harmful substances that are a bit easy to dispose of. If you feel uncomfortable, you will be well advised to call a professional. If you decide to do the disposal yourself, ensure that you have personal protective equipment that will prevent contact or inhalation injuries from the fumes or burns. These include an apron, protective gloves and safety goggles.

Delivery to a disposal facility should also be done cautiously. The substances should be placed in original containers and properly labelled. If these are not available, alternatives should be made of glass. They need to have properly fitting seals that prevent leakage. Do not mix these materials with domestic or commercial waste.




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