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Disposal Of Hazardous Waste
Skip bins can be a great help as they can make your waste disposal process more accessible and more convenient. However, the dangers of hazardous waste should make you mindful of what you put in your skip bins. You should dispose of hazardous waste responsibly because it helps ease current global waste management challenges.
You can read about different waste types, what hazardous waste is, reasons for proper disposal, and the dangers associated with hazardous waste in skip bins. This article will also offer tips on sorting hazardous wastes into what to put and what to leave out of skip bins, skip bin sizes, safe disposal of hazardous waste, and the role of professional waste removers.
Waste Types
Not only is the safe disposal of industrial wastes significant, but individual household waste is also. It is not just plastic waste and commercial waste that need proper disposal, but household waste as well. Waste is a topic that often comes up in discussions. Below are some of the most common types.
• General waste
• Concrete/bricks waste
• Mixed waste
• Green waste
• Soil/dirt waste
• Organic waste like food and garden waste
• Commercial waste
• Industrial waste
• Plastic waste
• Household waste, e.g., rugs, furniture, old TVs, etc.
• Liquid waste like sewage
• E-waste such as batteries, old electronic components, and cables
• Eco-wastes like oils, hydrocarbons, and pesticides
What Is Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous waste is considered dangerous and harmful to environmental and human health and safety.
Types Of Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is anything that is dangerous to its environment in any of four ways. Hazardous waste types can be a fire hazard (i.e., ignitable); corrosive to living tissue or metals; reactive (such as unstable chemicals); and toxic (like asbestos build-up). When determining whether or not something is hazardous waste, you need to check if it's something like explosives, poisonous substances, and infectious materials.
Why Dispose Of Hazardous Materials Properly?
Everyone's effort counts, and you can do your part to protect the environment by properly disposing of hazardous waste. You may, however, have to pay a penalty if you contaminate your skip bin with hazardous waste.
Possible Dangers Of Hazardous Waste In Skips
Everyday products can form household hazardous waste. These products include cleaning solvents, bleach, pool chemicals, tyres, gas bottles, food, oils, and batteries. Storing such household hazardous waste and chemicals can pose certain dangers, as discussed below.
Poisoning or injury
This can occur when someone drinks, inhales, or touches hazardous waste.
Risk of fire and explosion
There's a possibility your property can suffer from a chemical explosion or release of toxic fumes, which is why you should always have fire extinguishers available.
Environmental damage
Household chemicals can leak into the environment, which typically comes with penalties because you are causing environmental pollution.
Safety risk
Hazardous waste in your skip bins, recycling bins, or general waste can pose serious safety risks. They could be ignitable, corrosive, reactive, explosive, or toxic. They could pose a fire hazard in bins, garbage trucks, and to the community.
How To Sort Hazardous Waste Types
Proper waste disposal does not consist of simply using skip bin hire services. You have to start by identifying and understanding your rubbish. You can separate each waste based on the type of waste. For instance, you could decide what rubbish to put in your skip bin, what to leave out, and what to recycle.
Waste types you can safely put in skip bins
It is okay to dispose of the following kinds of rubbish in skip bins:
• Waste materials that do not decay or putrefy
• Rubbish that does not contain harmful contaminants or chemicals
• Waste that does not have infectious or poisonous materials
• Waste materials that are not likely to cause injury to waste handlers
Waste types to leave out of skip bins
According to the Australian government, you should not put certain hazardous waste materials in skip bins. The waste types that you should avoid placing in skip bins include the following:
Fuels, pesticides, paints, and solvents
They are likely to be combustible and poisonous. Also, your skip bins hire provider is not authorised to handle such hazardous waste. But you can dispose of dried paint in cans in your skip bin.
Asbestos and plasterboards
Asbestos is a well-known toxic material that can cause fatal diseases like lung cancer. Similarly, plasterboard has harmful environmental and health effects due to its gypsum content.
Food scraps and vehicle tyres
Food scraps are not allowed in skip bins because they can rot and attract pests and maggots. Current methods of tyre disposal are few and far between. The best options seem to be donating them or contacting companies specialising in tyre recycling. Tyres can become toxic when they reach high temperatures, so they're not allowed in skip bins.
Human and animal waste
Biological waste is toxic in a landfill. As such, you should not put it in skip bins to prevent the spread of germs in landfills. Besides, it can be harmful to skip bin operators.
Medical waste
Skips are not just a disposal method for your general waste but also for medical waste too. Medical waste can include syringes, needles, and bandages that may spread infections and diseases.
Batteries
Do not put batteries in your skip bins. They hold dangerous chemicals such as lead and acids. Instead, dispose of your used batteries at recycling facilities.
Gas bottles and gas cylinders
Gas bottles and cylinders can have residual content, which can be risky for collectors of skip bins. The operators may also not be licensed to handle such waste. Thus, it is best to return them to the company that sold them to you. They have ways of reusing or disposing of them.
Chemicals
The Australian government does not allow chemicals in skip bins. When certain chemicals are exposed to other materials, they may react. This can cause issues during waste treatment processes.
Mattresses
Contact your local council for information on where to dispose of old mattresses. You may even donate yours if the mattress can last a few more years, but they are not allowed in skip bins or landfills.
Flammable materials
Putting items that could cause sparks in your skip bin can lead to environmental degradation as fires may begin before treatment begins.
Below are some other examples of hazardous waste you should not put in skip bins:
• Fibro cement sheeting which is associated with some serious diseases
• Explosives and other environmentally toxic substances
• Toxic chemicals and poisons
• Herbicides and pesticides
Skip Bin Sizes
Perhaps, you are cleaning the house, your garden, taking out general trash, or even moving. There is a range of skip bin sizes to ease your cleaning. It is just a question of choosing the correct skip bin size for your waste disposal.
Here are some skip bin sizes and types:
Heavy waste skip
This is appropriate for builder's waste. It can hold about five wheelbarrows worth of heavy materials.
Standard skip bin
People use this for the disposal of household waste. It can take up to 1 wheelbarrow of heavy material.
Mini skip
Another smaller skip bin size is known as a mini skip bin.
Tips On Disposal Of Hazardous Waste
Improper disposal of hazardous wastes and household chemicals can seriously affect the environment. Here are some tips you could use to better dispose of hazardous waste.
• Ensure you store hazardous wastes in a safe manner before pick-up.
• Place safety signage as a warning on dangerous waste.
• Read up on the dangers of hazardous waste in skip bins and toxic waste generally. You should also know proper disposal methods.
• Dispose of your household wastes safely and appropriately.
• You can make use of Recycling Near You centres.
• Recycle printer ink cartridges through Planet Ark and Australia Post.
• Chemicals and solvents should not go down the drain. They end up in the ocean, affecting marine life.
• Do not burn hazardous materials. Chemical and toxic waste may be flammable or explosive. More so, they can release toxic chemicals into the air.
• Keep your bin within your property. This way, outsiders will not throw in prohibited rubbish.
• Remember to follow council and state regulations on waste disposal.
• Keep in mind the Occupational Health and Safety Act that specifies employers' and employees' responsibilities. This includes guidelines on managing hazardous materials.
• Take advantage of free drop-off days. Brisbane residents can take their hazardous waste to council transfer stations on specified collection days. It is a free service if the waste is properly segregated.
The Role Of Professional Rubbish Removers
At this point, you have some idea of the different waste types, types of hazardous wastes, how to dispose of hazardous wastes, and the reasons for their proper disposal. In addition, you are aware of some dangers of hazardous waste in skip bins, some tips on sorting hazardous wastes and skip bin sizes.
Still, skip bins hires can make the waste disposal process smoother. For instance, there are skip bins hire Adelaide and skip bins hire Brisbane services that can handle rubbish collection and disposal easily.
They can help you ensure proper segregation of waste materials. These waste removers have various sizes of skip bins to suit your project. Furthermore, they can provide waste and recycling advice. So, if in doubt, contact and employ professional waste removalist services.
Supreme Skips
Supreme Skips have the largest range of skip bins available for hire in the Adelaide, SA region.
