Alabama business owners may need to pay attention to hazardous waste laws in the future. Plenty of smaller scale businesses produce hazardous waste. This is not just a big business issue. Small businesses should know guidelines about hazardous waste disposal, too.
Today we will take a look at the types of businesses most likely to produce hazardous waste. We will also discuss how you should handle this waste.
Businesses known to produce hazardous waste
The Environmental Protection Agency discusses how small businesses can handle their hazardous waste. They also have a list of 500 specific types of hazardous waste. They classify these wastes as solids, liquids and sludges. A few of the businesses known for producing hazardous waste include:
- Hospitals
- Auto repair shops
- Exterminators
- Dry cleaners
- Photo processing centers
How to dispose of hazardous waste
The EPA estimates that many people used improper disposal methods in the past. They disposed of up to 90 percent of hazardous waste in dangerous ways. This often involved dumping hazardous waste on the property of the business. This was often undocumented. This caused risks for future landowners who were not aware of the history of waste on the property.
The regulation of hazardous waste disposal has increased in recent years. For many businesses, there are recycling programs that are easy to enter. The contents of the waste your business creates determines how you dispose of it. Some things are easier to recycle than others. In situations where recycling is not possible, there are hazardous waste disposal companies. You may wish to contract with one. They will handle your waste for you according to local and federal law.