Last edited 08 Nov 2021

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste 800.jpg

Contents

[edit] Introduction

According to the United Nations, more than 400 million tons of hazardous waste is produced globally every year. A by-product of industrial, manufacturing and other processes, hazardous waste can constitute a threat to public health and the environment and, as it cannot be used for any other purpose, must be safely disposed of. Whether in the form of a gas, liquid or solid, its very nature means it can require special handling and processes to render it safe.

If not safely disposed of, hazardous waste can constitute a problem for:

[edit] Potential dangers from hazardous waste

Posing potentially significant dangers, hazardous waste material can display one or more of the following characteristics:

[edit] Businesses associated with hazardous waste fall broadly into three groups:

[edit] Different types of hazardous waste produced by the construction industry

The UK government requires businesses to exercise a duty of care to ensure any hazardous waste produced by their operations (business or commercial waste) does not cause harm or damage. Business waste can include any waste that is generated by construction, demolition, industry and agriculture.

The construction sector uses a wide variety of materials for building and repair. Waste generation, some of which is classed as hazardous, can therefore be a problem although recent years have seen significant strides taken to address proper disposal and reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill. Typically, concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramic waste, as well as wood, plastic and glass must be assessed on site as to whether they constitute a hazard. Products such as coal tar and tarred products are almost invariably hazardous and must be dealt with appropriately.

For more information see: Hazardous materials.

The government classifies hazardous waste under four codes:

  • Mirror hazardous (MH) and mirror non-hazardous (MNH): these may be hazardous or non-hazardous.
  • Absolute hazardous (AH): these are always hazardous.
  • Absolute non-hazardous (ANH): these are always non-hazardous.

[edit] Dealing with hazardous waste

Once a waste material has been identified as hazardous, it is important to have a well-considered waste management plan in place. The plan should offer comprehensive guidelines on how to handle waste, from the point the waste is created, through transportation, treatment, and storage, right up to disposal.

Within an organisation, the waste management plan is used to inform and provide guidance to employees about best practices and laws that regulate the disposal of dangerous waste. The plan also defines roles and responsibilities and provides the framework for action in case of emergency, so that any risks of contamination can be contained.

For more information see: Site waste management plan.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

[edit] External references

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