About Different Kinds Of Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is any waste that is dangerous for any number of reasons and therefore needs to be handled with care and disposed of in a strict and specific manner. There are different forms of hazardous waste, and this means that it can be in liquid form, in solid form, and even in gas form. You can learn about the different categories of hazardous waste by reviewing the below content.
Biomedical waste/medical waste - Biomedical waste/medical waste is waste that might contain bodily fluids of any kind, such as blood. An example of medical waste would be a syringe that was used to give someone a shot or even to take their blood. This type of waste is disposed of in clearly marked red bags, bins, or other containers.
Toxic waste - Toxic waste is that which is poisonous or venomous and poses a threat to the environment, including posing a risk to the groundwater. It has the potential to have long-term effects on living things. This type of waste is harmful when ingested and may be absorbed through the skin.
Corrosive waste - Corrosive waste is a type of waste that can eat through materials, including many types of containers. This makes it important for this type of waste to be placed in very specific containers that the corrosives won't be able to destroy. The containers also need to be sealed securely in order to prevent the corrosives from escaping and possibly eating through other nearby materials and even structures. A couple of examples of corrosive materials would be sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.
Ignitable waste - Ignitable waste includes liquids, compressed gases, and solids. This type of waste is waste that will ignite or combust under the right conditions. Special care needs to be taken when storing and transporting such materials.
Explosive waste - Explosive waste is waste that is unstable and can explode or have other dangerous reactions if there is a change caused by the addition of another material, even if such material is water in some cases.
Rules for hazardous waste must be followed strictly. Anything that is considered to be hazardous waste needs to be in the appropriate containers at all times. The containers need to be appropriately marked. The containers also need to be kept in a safe area, such as away from flames or heat. They also need to be transported in vehicles with the appropriate warnings on them.
To learn more about hazardous waste management, contact a resource like Ohana Environmental Construction Inc.