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How Small Businesses Can Dispose of Hazardous Wastes
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Business New Haven
11/10/2003
By: MImi Houston
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If you're a small-business owner in greater New Haven, you know how difficult it can be to deal with hazardous waste disposal. You may be exempt from the standards and procedures that big businesses must comply with by law, but that creates it's own problems. Having to contract out to private disposal companies can be unreliable, cost big dollars and frustrate even the most environmentally conscious entrepreneur.
A better idea may be to contact your town's water supplier and ask what its policy is for collecting hazardous waste. These collection sites often accept waste products from businesses such as school science labs, car repair shops, and printers that are too small to participate in government-sponsored programs.
Collection season typically runs from May through October, during which time small-business owners can use the site's disposal service. During winter months, when the site is closed, it's a good idea to spend time organizing and packaging things that you will need to dispose of next year.
Keep an accurate, running list of all the things you have that will need to be properly disposed, and check your accumulating stock frequently, to make sure nothing is leaking from cracked or broken containers.
Participants in such programs that are specific to small businesses typically have to prove they generate less than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) in a calendar month, and that at any one time, they do not store more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of total hazardous waste.
Having trouble determining exactly what is "hazardous" waste? The best way would be to read the label of the product you need to dispose of. Typical materials might include oil-based paints, solvents, acids, pesticides and gasoline. If labels are unclear, call the manufacturer of the product and get the scoop from the source.
Once you've determined that your materials are hazardous, there is a checklist for ensuring the safest (and most legal!) way of getting rid of them.
First, call for a copy of the CESQG material description and certification form. Fill it out completely, making sure you list each item you intend to bring to the collection site. The form will be reviewed and returned to you with any changes. It will also include your appointment date, time and disposal fee.
You'll also be provided with shipping papers; a list of the wastes you are transporting to the site, based on the information you have given.
Check to make sure the list is correct and complete well before your appointment for drop-off, so that you can change it if necessary. Also, keep these papers handy in your vehicle while transporting them, and hold onto a copy of them for up to three years as proof that you've properly managed the disposal of your company's hazardous waste.
Next, always properly package your materials. All packaging needs to be structurally sound and not cracked or allowing leaks of any kind. It's always a good idea to transport your materials in the original containers, if possible. Also, make sure any containers you are using are suitable for their contents. A sealed plastic container that is good for oil-based paint, for instance, is not acceptable for acids.
Remember to avoid mixing your hazardous waste. You need to be able to identify exactly the contents of each package you hand in, which brings us to our next item: Clearly label each package with its contents. The easiest way by using the original containers they were purchased in, as long as the labels remain clearly legible.
You are responsible for transporting your hazardous waste to the collection site. Secure the packages in your vehicle before you hit the road, and then follow the directions of the hazardous waste vendor once you get to the site.
Once there, you'll have to pay to have your materials accepted. Because you will have made an appointment to bring the materials that are listed on your shipping papers, only those materials can be accepted. If you notice something on your way out the door that also needs to be properly disposed of, you'll have to wait until next time to bring it. Vendors will accept only what you have listed on the papers.
By properly planning to use the collection season, small-business owners can avoid the headaches and extra expenses that hazardous waste disposal can present. And they can feel better about keeping the environment clean - which is always good business all around.
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