What is hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or harmful to human health or the environment. It can take the form of solids, liquids, and gases. In addition, hazardous waste is produced through manufacturing methods, discarded pesticides and cleaning fluids, and used materials like batteries and light bulbs.
Common hazardous waste characteristics include corrosivity, flammability, reactivity, and toxicity.
Reactive hazardous waste may cause chemical reactions like explosions or the emission of various gases, fumes, or vapours under certain conditions. Unfortunately, there are no test methods for determining the reactivity of waste.
Corrosive hazardous waste is solids that are either acids or bases or produce acidic or alkaline solutions. A corrosive waste is one with a pH level of 2.0 or higher. However, corrosive hazardous waste can also be liquid, for example, battery acid, and can corrode metal containers. There are several methods to determine whether the waste is corrosive.
Flammable hazardous waste can spark fires, have a flash point below 60°C, or blow up in certain situations through spontaneous combustion. Used solvents and waste oil are examples of these wastes. Several test methods can be used to determine whether a waste is flammable.
Toxic hazardous waste can be fatal when ingested or absorbed. This includes various substances like lead, mercury, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), etc. In addition, toxic waste can pollute groundwater if not disposed of properly. This waste category can be further broken down by characteristics like acute skin toxicity, carcinogenesis, acute aquatic toxicology, etc.
What is a hazardous spill?
Hazardous spills can be classified as oil, acid, or chemical.
How do you clean up an oil spill?
When there is an oil spill, the oil condenses into a millimetre-thick slick that floats on the water. The oil eventually spreads out and thins, becoming a widespread sheen on the water. The method used to clean a spill is determined by how quickly a clean-up crew can reach the spill and other factors like currents and weather. For example, containment and skimming may be used to clean up the slick with long, buoyant booms that float on the water.
Oil always floats in salt water and almost always in fresh water. However, the heaviest crude oil may sink into fresh water. Oil frequently combines with water and particulate matter like sand to form tar balls as it degrades. These balls tend to harden on the outside while remaining soft in the centre. Tar balls and other degraded forms of oil in the sea do not pose the same environmental threat as concentrated oil slicks because they are separate and scattered.
How do you clean up an acid spill?
Cleaning and acid spill requires a chemical neutraliser should be used. In addition, eye and skin protection like goggles, acid-resistant gloves, shoe covers, and a lab coat is necessary for safe cleaning. Before starting the clean-up, it’s crucial to ensure all ignition sources are turned off. Dry material can be collected in a plastic or glass container for disposal.
To prevent a liquid acid spill from spreading, use a spill pillow, pad, or other absorbent agents, then add a neutralising agent like calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate. To avoid splattering, add the neutraliser slowly from the edges inward. Mix the spill with a spatula or similar tool after adding the neutralising agent.
Be sure to perform a pH test to ensure the mixture has been neutralised. A pH of 6 to 8 is no longer considered hazardous. Then, the acid can be absorbed, sealed, labelled, and collected. The spill area should be ventilated and cleaned with soap and water.
How do you clean up a chemical spill?
Chemical spills should be approached like acid spills. However, you should only use a chemical spill kit, not an acid spill kit.
How do hazardous material spills happen?
Spills can result from careless individuals or people making mistakes, equipment breakdown, natural disasters like hurricanes, and terrorists, war, vandals, or illegal dumpers committing deliberate acts.
Contact ENSA for details
A well-thought-out spill response strategy incorporates various absorbents and spill kits kept on-site for specific risks. ENSA provides a range of hazardous material absorbents. If you want to know more about our hazardous waste disposal solutions, get in touch with ENSA Environmental representatives today.