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Understanding hazardous waste

Waste that contains elements or compounds that are detrimental to the environment or animal or human health is often classified as hazardous waste. Hazardous waste has a range of origins, including medical facilities, households, educational institutions, the agricultural sector, manufacturing processes, mining, and many more. Due to its harmful nature, hazardous waste must be handled with caution and requires particular disposal through specific methods and waste management facilities.

Characteristics or properties of hazardous waste

Physical hazards include:

  • Explosive
  • Flammable
  • Oxidising
  • Compressed gas
  • Corrosive

    • Health hazards are:

  • Toxic
  • Irritant

    • Environmental hazards refer to waste that is environmentally damaging.

    Impact of hazardous waste

    Hazardous waste may be released into the environment, where it can spread to water, land, and the air. This contamination poses a severe threat to the environment and human health. In South Africa, the Department of Environmental Affairs manages hazardous waste. They’ve implemented the National Environmental Management Waste Act, which provides protection for public health and the environment. The following measures are crucial:

  • Decreasing natural resource consumption
  • Minimising waste generation
  • Reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering waste
  • Treating waste and safely disposing of it as a last resort
  • Preventing ecological degradation and pollution
  • Remediating contaminated land
  • Securing ecologically sustainable development
  • Promoting justifiable economic, and social development

    • Waste Classification and Management Regulations aim to regulate the classification and management of waste to support the provisions of the Act. The regulations prescribe:

  • The general duties of people who generate, transport and manage waste
  • The requirements for disposing of waste in landfills
  • Timeframes for managing particular wastes

    • In addition, it provides a mechanism to list waste management activities that don’t require a waste management licence. National norms and standards for the landfill disposal of waste prescribe landfill classification and the design of a containment barrier, waste acceptance criteria for landfill disposal, and waste disposal restrictions.

    Contact ENSA for details

    ENSA offers specialised and safe hazardous waste removal and disposal services. If you want more information about hazardous waste removal and disposal, get in touch with a representative from ENSA Environmental today.