All You Need To Know About Hazardous Waste Disposal Methods

The increased waste generation rate in Australia is driving up demand for professional waste management services. One of the most difficult challenges for professionals is the safe disposal of hazardous waste, which causes environmental damage. Continue reading to learn more about hazardous waste, its characteristics, and the most common methods of hazardous waste disposal in Adelaide.

What is hazardous waste?

As the name implies, hazardous waste is waste that is extremely hazardous to the environment and human health. It comes in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms and is used primarily in the manufacturing process. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has over 450 hazardous wastes on its list, which is further divided into F-list, K-list, P-list, and U-list categories.

Characteristics of hazardous waste

Certain characteristics help in the identification of hazardous waste. Some of them are as follows:

Ignitability

An ignitable hazardous waste has a flash point of less than 60 degrees Celsius and burns rapidly once ignited. Naphtha, lacquer thinner, epoxy resins, adhesives, and oil-based paints are a few examples.

Corrosivity

Corrosive hazardous waste is a liquid waste with a pH between 2 and 12.5. They primarily consist of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, both of which are used to clean metallic parts in industrial units. This category also includes untreated solvent-disposed-of painting.

Reactivity

Reactive hazardous waste is defined as any waste material that frequently reacts with water and emits toxic gases when exposed to corrosive materials. Waste gunpowder, sodium metal, and cyanide-containing waste are some examples.

Toxicity

Certified laboratories test samples of various types of waste to determine the level of toxicity so that the waste can be properly treated before being released into bodies of water.

Hazardous waste disposal methods

Hazardous waste disposal in Adelaide is complicated because it contains chemicals and toxic materials that must be treated by industrial experts before being dumped or released into bodies of water. The following are some of the most common methods for dealing with hazardous waste:

Landfill disposal

Landfill disposal is one of the oldest and most frequently used methods of hazardous waste disposal in Adelaide. Hazardous waste is collected, transported, and dumped into an engineered landfill, which is structurally different from a regular landfill.

It is lined with a double-layered non-porous material to prevent leakage or human contact, and it has a leak protection system as well as wind disperse control. For safe disposal, a proper regulation and maintenance system is required. If the associated safety measures fail, this method of landfill disposal poses a risk. Leaking waste from landfills can harm wildlife and nearby residents.

Incineration

The hazardous waste is burned in enclosed devices using this method. This method is popular in areas with limited landfill space, but it is very expensive. Incinerators, along with pollution control devices, burn wastes containing nitrogen, phosphorous, chlorine, polychlorinated biphenyl, carcinogenic substances, and heavy metals. This method reduces the volume of hazardous waste, but some toxic gases are released during the burning process.

Dumping in deep sea

The waste material is deposited in the deep sea in this method of hazardous waste disposal in Adelaide to prevent it from entering other bodies of water. Prior to deposition, the waste is properly treated to ensure that marine life is not harmed. This method can be used after obtaining permission from environmental protection authorities, but it is not recommended due to the increasing volume of waste dumped in seas and oceans each year.

Underground disposal

The underground disposal method is used to dispose of radioactive waste generated by laboratory experiments, some medical treatments, radioactive ore mining, and nuclear fuel production. It is regarded as an ideal and cost-effective method of hazardous waste disposal in Adelaide. Only inactive and partially active mines that meet technical and geological requirements is waste disposed of.

Which method to use for hazardous waste disposal?

Choose one of the above-mentioned methods that is compatible with parameters such as the volume of waste generated, location, set of rules to be followed, and the frequency of other methods in comparison to the one you choose.

Get hazardous waste disposal services from professionals

Do you treat your wound on your own or should you seek professional help at a health care facility? Most people will agree with the latter part, and waste management should follow suit. Dealing with hazardous waste on your own can be hazardous because it contains toxic substances that must be treated using modern methods.

If you need to dispose of hazardous waste materials in Adelaide, the Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre (AWRC) is a great place to do so. One of Adelaide's four Community Chemical and Paint Drop-off Centres, the Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre accepts batteries, chemicals, coolants, fire extinguishers, fluorescent tubes, gas bottles, herbicides, oils, paint materials, pesticides, and x-rays. This service is provided free of charge to the general public for the disposal of hazardous materials originating from domestic sources.

The Adelaide Waste and Recycling Centre is managed by Solo Resource Recovery and handles both business waste and domestic household rubbish, for Adelaide and surrounding locations.