One of the biggest concerns regarding your home is household hazardous materials.
It can be easy to think that just because something is for residential or business use means there are no severe risks.
However, this is not always the case. Hazardous materials can be present in household waste just as often as in industrial waste.
More products with labels indicating that they are flammable, poisonous, combustible, and corrosive can be considered dangerous.
This includes common household products ranging from non-alkaline batteries, fluorescent bulbs, home cleaners to nail polish, aerosol cans (including deodorants and room fresheners), paint remover, driveway sealer, and pool chemicals.
Other household items that can be dangerous include antifreeze and even tires.
What Are Household Hazardous Materials?
Hazardous waste is trash that can harm human and environmental health. If it is not disposed of properly, these materials can leak into the environment and cause untold amounts of damage.
Household hazardous wastes are, as the name suggests, hazardous wastes that can be found in residential trash.
Aside from the products mentioned, household staples like laptops, old TVs, and cell phones can also be classified as hazardous wastes due to the metals and chemicals used to construct these products.
What Is The Risk of Improper Hazardous Waste Disposal Springfield, MO?
The biggest issue that can arise if harmful materials are improperly disposed of is that they can contaminate the environment.
The damage may not be immediately visible.
However, they can cause significant damage to individuals and sanitation workers.
Waste can become an issue by contaminating septic tanks and wastewater treatment facilities, posing a risk to children and pets if improperly disposed of within the home.
Another issue with these materials is that they cannot usually be sent for traditional recycling.
While some products, like old phones, can be salvaged for parts, recycling facilities are generally only equipped to deal with materials like aluminum, paper, and plastic.
Some types of hazardous wastes not only serve as a risk to the environment but also to the direct health of workers – needles and broken bulbs, for example, can cause a major issue if they find their way into a recycling facility.
Of course, this is not the case for all hazardous wastes.
Some types of waste can be recycled, which is why it is always important to consider the expertise of a professional disposal service.
They can help guide you regarding proper waste disposal.
How to Dispose of Hazardous Materials Properly
If you want to eliminate hazardous household waste, remember that this type of waste cannot simply be dumped in the city’s landfill.
As discussed, this can cause damage to both the environment as well as sanitation workers.
To mitigate this issue, cities often have an authorized site to dispose of hazardous items.
