Asbestos and other Hazardous Waste

The Environmental Protection Agency defines “hazardous waste” as “liquid, solid, contained gas, or sludge wastes that contain properties that are dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment.” Exposure to hazardous waste is a serious health concern, and while asbestos exposure can be one of the most devastating if the exposure results in a diagnosis of mesothelioma, there are a number of other hazardous wastes that you and your family should be aware of.

Types of Hazardous Waste

The EPA has determined that there are three types of hazardous wastes, and have divided them up into three “lists” – the F-list, or non-specific source wastes, includes waste products from manufacturing industries, such as degreasers. These wastes are “non-specific source wastes” because processes resulting in hazardous waste vary from industry to industry.

The K-list features source-specific wastes including products such as pesticides that can be conclusively traced to certain industrial processes, and finally, there is the P-list and U-list, which include chemicals discarded by commercial plants. An example of a hazardous waste from the P or U-list is pharmaceutical waste or sodium cyanide, which is used in the processing of gold and silver.

Asbestos is just as hazardous as chemical waste from manufacturing plants, and the federal government regulates its use. Like other hazardous materials, asbestos is extremely harmful to the long-term health of humans and pets, and should be treated just like any other hazardous waste material.

Common Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials are not only present in big factories and in landfills – in fact, they can be located much closer to the places we live, work, and play. Common forms of hazardous materials that you should be aware of and know how to dispose of properly include:

• Pesticides, including those that are sprayed on residential lawns or grassy areas where children might play, such as community parks
• Degreasers, such as products that one might use on their personal vehicle and keep in their garage
• Acetone, a chemical found in degreasers as well as paint thinner, nail polish remover, and furniture finishers
• Petroleum, which may be found in water or soil in residential areas
• -Products containing chemicals that can cause health problems if ingested, such as batteries and laundry detergent.

All hazardous materials should be handled with care, and disposed of properly. As a general rule, homeowners should consider adhering to the following:

Storing hazardous chemicals or other products out of the reach of children in an area with consistent temperature (extreme temperatures alter hazardous chemicals or materials, resulting in health concerns)

Reading directions for use on all hazardous chemicals and products to avoid potentially dangerous human exposure as well as harmful interactions with other chemicals

Disposing of hazardous chemicals and other products before or on the date listed on the packaging, as changes in the material’s makeup can harm the environment and the health of those living in the home

Disposal of Hazardous Waste

Certain hazardous materials must be disposed of differently than general household waste, in an effort to limit potentially dangerous exposure to humans and the environment.

Asbestos waste, for example, must be disposed of in designated landfills, where the area is prepped for asbestos waste in an effort to limit environmental exposures, and the waste is then sealed to prevent human exposure. Other types of hazardous waste must be disposed of differently, too. For example, some hazardous waste must be incinerated. Liquid hazardous waste may be disposed of in a underground injection well, all of which must meet requirements put forth by the Safe Drinking Water Act.

To find out about hazardous waste disposal regulations in your area, there are a few options:

1.) Contact the Department of Environmental Conservation in your state, and ask to be directed to the office that handles environmental and hazardous waste issues in your county

2.) Call the company that handles your general garbage pick-up: many companies (as well as cities/towns and counties) have designated “Hazardous Waste Days” on which they will pick up hazardous waste materials and dispose of them safely, or during which the public can drop off their waste at a designated location for disposal

3.) Get in touch with your local recycling center or poison control center

Designated Hazardous Waste Landfills

Like the name suggests, these are landfills that have been designated by the federal government to accept hazardous waste materials. A hazardous waste landfill must have a run-on control system, along with a runoff management system and a wind dispersal management system if it is to be considered up to the government’s standards. These systems ensure that the hazardous waste contained in the landfill can withstand the elements, such as wind and heavy rains, and guarantee that those living and working nearby will not be exposed if extreme environmental conditions are present.

A hazardous waste landfill typically contains solid and liquid waste. However, waste in certain forms must be contained before it is disposed of in these landfills, to limit environmental and human exposure. For example, some liquid wastes may be combined with other materials that absorb the liquid. Batteries, which are solid but contain chemicals within that can seep out into the soil, are contained as well in units designed to house hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste landfills must also be “covered,” whether by a particular mix of soil or other methods, in an attempt to protect the nearby environment and residents living in close proximity.

Asbestos waste may not be disposed of in a hazardous waste landfill, but in a landfill that has specific areas for asbestos waste. These are known as ACM (Asbestos Containing Material) Landfills. An ACM Landfill is either active, or inactive. An active ACM Landfill may have the presence of asbestos fibers in the air, and is therefore monitored very closely to ensure that there are no asbestos fibers escaping into the air. If the EPA or other certifying agency determines that there are emissions present in an active ACM Landfill, asbestos waste will be have to be covered with at least six inches of non-asbestos materials, or, a suppression agent is applied to the area.

An inactive ACM Landfill has no detectable asbestos emissions in the air surrounding the landfill.

At both active and inactive ACM Landfills, warning signs must be present, indicating that there is asbestos in the area and that workers must take caution to prevent asbestos exposure.

ACM Landfills must be separated from other areas. Some states require the suppression of asbestos waste on a daily basis.

Sources

Environmental Protection Agency
(http://www.epa.gov)