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Viewing Managing Hazardous Household Waste - Your ResponsibilitiesManaging Hazardous Household Waste - Your Responsibilities
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The quantity of household waste produced is increasing year after year at an alarming rate, and governments are under pressure to expand existing landfills or build new ones to accommodate the waste that is being produced. How can you help? By Penelope Pepper It is no secret that the quantity of household waste produced is increasing year after year at an alarming rate, and governments are under pressure to expand existing landfills or build new ones to accommodate the waste that is being produced. What is Hazardous Household Waste? Household waste is what is left over from household goods or products. Hazardous household wastes are household products that contain chemicals with the potential to affect plants, the health of humans and animals, and are detrimental to the environment when handled improperly Improper management of household waste has the potential to be very detrimental to the environment, people, and animals. What many of us may not realize is that many common household products contain corrosive, toxic, or flammable chemicals. Hazardous household waste should not be disposed of in the same way as regular waste. For example, a gasoline can buried in the ground can affect rivers and find its way into drinking water. The hydrocarbons in motor oils or pesticides have the potential to bio-accumulate in fresh water fishes and can find their way in the food chain. Burning of hazardous waste leads to the release of toxic chemicals and fumes into the air. Once released into the environment, these chemicals are dispersed over large areas, thereby affecting the health of persons over a wider area. Bioaccumulation of hazardous compounds in the systems of plants, animals, and humans has the potential to affect their reproductive lives and growth, impair the function of various organs such as the liver and kidneys, affect the functioning of the central nervous systems and immune systems, and some have been listed as known carcinogens. How Can You Tell if a Product is Hazardous? Read the labels of products. In most countries labels are required for all products. These should provide information on the constituents of the products, including symbols and words to indicate the hazard to animals, humans, and the environment if mishandled. What Can You Do to Manage Hazardous Waste? Purchase environmentally friendly products. Experts agree that the best way to control waste is to not produce it in the first place. You can start by avoiding the purchase of products that contain chemicals which are harmful to humans, animals and the environment. Purchase those products that are biodegradable or friendly to the environment. Safe product storage. Ensure that hazardous products are stored in a safe place, that their containers are not damaged, and that they do not have any leaks - to reduce the risk of contaminating water sources, land, humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Ensure that corrosive products like acids are stored in separate areas from other hazardous products. Check products frequently to ensure that there are no leaks and broken lids or bulging sides. Always store products in their original containers, to avoid unintentional usage. Ensure that these products are stored in a place where children and animal have no access to them. Disposal of Products Disposal of products should always be the last resort. Why? Because there are no safe ways to dispose of hazardous waste. You can avoid the dilemma of hazardous waste disposal by either selecting biodegradable products, recycling the product, giving the excess products to friends, neighbors, or family; or purchasing smaller volumes of the product. If, however, disposal is inevitable, then you should dispose of the waste in the manner prescribed on the label. Although there are laws to regulate the handling and use of large quantities of hazardous waste, the existence of laws to regulate the typical small quantities generated at the household level is non- existent. For this reason, the responsibility for the management of hazardous waste falls squarely on the shoulders of the hazardous waste generators. Protection of the environment can only happen when you play a role in finding creative ways to re-use, recycle, or reduce waste. This is essential if we are to safeguard the environment and health of future generations. Remember that waste management is your business, my business, our business. About the Author: Visit St. Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority for more information on waste management. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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