Why We Have a No Hazardous Waste Policy
One of the questions waste disposal companies like ours get asked all the time, is whether we can dispose of or recycle hazardous waste. The answer is, no, we cannot. If you try to dispose of hazardous waste in our dumpsters, you won’t just be breaking our terms of service, you will be breaking multiple laws.
Hazardous waste, whether biomedical, chemical or something else altogether, is not like other kinds of refuse. It requires special handling by experts and isn’t accepted or handled by any standard facilities. In fact, depending on the type of waste, finding a processing or holding center might be incredibly difficult.
What is hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste is a broad category of waste and debris that is toxic or harmful to human beings and/ or the environment. It poses an immediate risk to those around it and often cannot be recycled without special equipment. So much so, that whatever it touches is often considered contaminated and must be treated accordingly.
Hazardous waste includes:
- Batteries
- Flammable liquids and their containers.
- Poisons, paints, and aerosols.
- Biomedical waste from manufacturing facilities, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and veterinary clinics.
- Chemicals from labs and manufacturing facilities.
- Human or animal fluids of any kind.
- Any equipment or materials that have come into contact with any of the above.
So, what should I do?
If you have hazardous waste you need to dispose of, you will need to do a bit of research and make a few calls. First, identify the type of waste you have. Then check your local and provincial recycling facilities to see what options you have. BC Recycles has a hotline and information on its website that can help you if you live here in British Columbia.
You will need to contact a specialist and possibly a waste facility to find the right solution. Only they can help you adhere to all state and federal waste disposal requirements. Doing anything less is not just illegal, but dangerous to you, those around you. Improperly disposed of hazardous waste can lead to mass contamination and nobody wants that.
