Hazardous waste management comes with all kinds of risks, including environmental damage, human health hazards, and steep fines. Instead of merely managing these dangers, what if we could eliminate them at the source?
Reducing your hazardous waste is a great step in the right direction, and we have a few practical strategies to help you move towards a less hazardous future.
- Why Is It Important to Reduce Hazardous Waste?
- Preventing Hazardous Waste Generation
- Strategies to Reduce Hazardous Waste
- Building a Greener, Less Hazardous Future
Why Is It Important to Reduce Hazardous Waste?
Understanding hazardous waste makes it clear why reduction is so important – it poses serious environmental risks and can directly impact our health. For example, if hazardous materials find their way into soil or water systems, they can cause long-term damage affecting everything from local wildlife to our drinking water.
Beyond the environmental impacts of hazardous waste and subsequent health issues from mismanaging it, ensuring safe and compliant waste management can be tricky, especially if you’re unsure of the regulations or the type of waste you’re dealing with.
It can be complicated, and expensive, and it involves stringent processes for disposal and treatment at a specialised facility. Compliant hazardous waste management is a necessity, not a ‘nice-to-have’. Complying with regulations like the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 will save you from hefty fines, legal troubles and much more.
As you start cutting down on hazardous waste, you’ll notice a decrease in the time and resources spent managing it and an enhanced reputation as a business committed to environmental responsibility.
Preventing Hazardous Waste Generation
The best way to reduce hazardous waste is to prevent it altogether, in line with the most favourable position on the waste hierarchy.
You can get a start on this by switching to non-hazardous materials whenever possible. Opting for non-hazardous or less hazardous alternatives can significantly reduce the volume of hazardous waste you generate.
How can you do this? One way is by asking your suppliers about any available alternatives for the hazardous substances you currently use in your processes, and see where practical changes can be made. Networking with similar businesses and joining trade associations can keep you updated on the latest hazardous waste management and prevention developments.
You never know, there may be more options than you think!
Strategies to Reduce Hazardous Waste
If entirely preventing hazardous waste isn’t possible, the next best step is to reduce it as much as possible. Here are some strategies you can use to do so:
Conduct Regular Maintenance
Staying vigilant with regular maintenance is essential for reducing hazardous waste, and it’s easier than you might think. Start by frequently checking your systems and equipment for leaks. Even a tiny leak can cause hazardous materials to escape and contaminate your workspace.
Substitute Your Materials
As mentioned earlier, you can actively seek out and substitute hazardous waste materials with less hazardous or non-hazardous alternatives. This could involve switching to water-based solvents, using biodegradable cleaning products, or opting for digital documentation instead of printed materials that require hazardous inks.
Improve Your Production Efficiency
Boosting your production efficiency is a game-changer in reducing hazardous waste. Start by choosing non-hazardous raw materials and tweaking your products to eliminate those hazardous components. This simple switch can make a huge difference in your waste footprint.
But don’t stop there. Enhance your quality control procedures to make sure fewer defective products are wasted. Think of it as catching mistakes before they become costly problems. Also, by adopting better working practices, you can cut down on the need for frequent and extensive cleaning, which means using fewer hazardous cleaning products. The result? Less waste, lower costs, and a cleaner, safer workplace for everyone.
Modify Your Processes
Reviewing your production processes is another effective way to identify areas where hazardous material usage can be minimised. This might involve:
- Optimising processes: Streamline operations to reduce waste generation during manufacturing.
- Implementing closed-loop systems: Recycle and reuse materials wherever possible within the production process to minimise waste output.
- Improving inventory management: Implement a ‘first-in, first-out’ (FIFO) system to prevent materials from expiring and becoming waste. Inventory control can also help you avoid over-purchasing.
Upgrade Your Old Equipment
Sticking with outdated equipment can lead to increased hazardous waste and higher costs. Old machinery often struggles to handle hazardous materials precisely, leading to more spills, leaks, and contamination. This can drive up waste volume and put you at risk for expensive regulatory fines.
Reduce Your Volumes
Focus on reducing the quantity of hazardous materials used in each process. You can achieve this through:
- Using concentrated products: Concentrated cleaning agents or other products that require dilution, reduce the amount of packaging waste and the overall volume of hazardous material stored.
- Precise application methods: Implement techniques that ensure the accurate application of hazardous materials, minimising overspray, spills and excess usage.
Recover and Reuse Your Materials
Recovering and reusing materials isn’t just smart, it’s a low-hanging fruit for reducing hazardous waste. Start by pinpointing materials that can be reused on-site and set up efficient processes for recycling or recovering hazardous substances. For materials that can’t be reused in-house, consider sending them to off-site facilities for proper treatment, recycling, or recovery.
Segregate and Recycle Your Waste
Properly segregating hazardous waste streams prevents contamination and maximises opportunities for recycling or more sustainable treatment methods. Clearly label containers and ensure employees are aware of proper segregation procedures. It’s also worth exploring opportunities for recycling specific hazardous waste streams.
Treat Your Waste On-Site
In some cases, it may be feasible to treat your hazardous waste on-site* to reduce its toxicity or volume before final disposal. This can include neutralisation, detoxification, or volume reduction techniques.
*It’s crucial to ensure compliance with all relevant environmental regulations before implementing any on-site treatment methods.
Train Your Employees
Comprehensive training is a must-have for all employees of a business producing hazardous waste and as a minimum should cover:
- Proper handling and storage of hazardous materials
- Safe operating procedures for equipment and processes involving hazardous substances
- Waste segregation and labelling procedures
- Emergency response procedures for spills or releases
- The importance of waste reduction and company-specific strategies
Your team should be well-trained in handling hazardous materials and familiar with your company’s specific waste management practices. Regular training sessions can keep everyone up-to-date on the latest safety protocols and techniques for minimising waste.
When everyone knows exactly how to manage hazardous materials, they can help reduce accidental spills and mishandling, further cutting down on waste generation.
Building a Greener, Less Hazardous Future
Reducing hazardous waste is a worthwhile endeavour for any business using hazardous materials. By doing so, you can make a big difference, you can protect the environment, safeguard your team, reduce health risks, boost cost savings, and maximise operational efficiency.
Contact us today to learn more about our hazardous waste services and how we can help your business reduce hazardous waste and manage the waste you generate more effectively.
