SAFE METHODS OF WASTE DISPOSAL

In our day to day life, we dispose off lot of waste both in our workplace as well as in our homes. But knowingly or unknowingly, we tend to mix hazardous wastes with non-hazardous wastes and dispose them together.

So, what is hazardous waste or non-hazardous waste?

A Western Municipal Authority has classified them like this:

"A waste is considered hazardous if it is flammable, corrosive, reactive, toxic, or contains heavy metals"

Recent laws now regulate the disposal of many kinds of waste, and there are new restrictions on what may be put in public landfill or poured down the drain. From the following table, we can get a clue of safe way of disposal of waste:

 

Wrong !

Right

What cannot go down the drain ?

What can go down the drain?

    1.Solutions containing heavy metals

    2.Poisons

    3.Organic Solvents

    4.Strong Acids and Strong Bases

    5.Waste paint and paint thinner

    6.Motor Oil

          7.Methanol

    1.Sugar and protein solutions

    2.Liquid detergents

    3.Dilute acids and bases                  (PH >5.5  and < 10.0)

          4. Non medical solutions

What cannot go into  Building Trash?

What can go into Building Trash?

    1.All hazardous lab chemicals

    2.Unused copy machine toner

    3.Photographic chemicals

    4.Pesticides

    5.Paints and thinners

    6.Waste oils and solvents

    7.Liquid paper white out

    8.Batteries

    9.Empty containers with chemical residue

    10.Hazardous household chemicals

    11.Medical waste containing infectious agents, syringes and syringe needles

 

    1.   Sugars and some salts

    2.   Powdered detergents

          3.   Sand and clay

          4.   Broken glassware packed in cardboard box, taped and labelled as "Broken Glassware"   

We have seen now that what can go into drain or building trash and there is no problem in dispsing them. But, you can notice there are quite a long list of items which should not be put in a drain or building trash. Yet we have to get rid of those hazardous wastes in a safe manner. So how to dispose them SAFELY ?

    1.Within our complex, we should never use the sewer drain for disposal of any hazardous wastes as mentioned earlier.

    2.We have to utilise the Onsite Waste Storage facility for Offsite disposal after obtaining proper clearance from Statutory Authority.

    3.Practice packaging sharp objects like razor blades, broken glassware etc. and then dispose to the appropriate location.

    4.Practice disposing trash to the appropriate bins like "Recyclable" or "Non Recyclable"

Municipal authority has specified guidelines for disposal of wastes according to the type of industry. Method of disposal applicable to our company is:

Onsite Storage and Offsite treatment and Disposal.

What do we achieve by disposing the Wastes in a Safe manner ?

By following the regulations,

"WE PROTECT HUMAN LIFE AND SAFEGUARD OUR ENVIRONMENT"

So, how can we contribute to the Waste Management apart from following correct method of Disposal?

We all know that  "PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE".

Therefore,

    1.Minimise amount of waste generated

    2.Adopt to practices that do not generate wastes

    3.Dispose of new wastes, within one year of generation

    4.Prefer use of recycled products

LET US ALL JOIN HANDS IN PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT TO LEAVE A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE TO OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LIVE.

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