Hazardous Waste Vs. E-Waste. What’s the Difference?
Hazardous waste is part of electronic waste. Rarely can hazardous waste be donated. Keep this in mind when donating: oils, paint, broken computer screens, cracked TV’s, fluorescent tubes, etc. these items cannot be donated. eWaste Disposal Inc. however, is a certified and insured hazardous waste recycling center that takes hazardous materials and recycles them properly for the consumer.
Defining Hazardous
Waste Hazardous waste presents immediate or long-term risks to humans, animals, plants, or the environment. It requires special handling for detoxification or safe disposal. In the U.S., hazardous waste is legally defined as any discarded solid or liquid that:
contains one or more of 39 carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic compounds at levels that exceed established limits (including many solvents, pesticides, and paint strippers); catches fire easily (such as gasoline, paints, and solvents); is reactive or unstable enough to explode or release toxic fumes (including acids, bases, ammonia, and chlorine bleach); or is capable of corroding metal containers such as tanks, drums, and barrels (such as industrial cleaning agents and oven or drain cleaners).
The EPA has a list of more than 500 specific types of hazardous waste.
Who’s Responsible?
Businesses such as metal finishers, gas stations, auto repair shops, dry cleaners, and photo developers produce many hazardous waste products. These by-products include sulfuric acid, heavy metals found in batteries, and silver-bearing waste, which comes from photo finishers, printers, hospitals, schools, dentists, doctors, and veterinarians. Heavy metals, solvents, and contaminated wastewater result from paint manufacturing. Photo processing also creates organic chemicals, chromium compounds, phosphates, and ammonium compounds. Even cyanide can be a by-product, resulting from electroplating and other surface-treatment processes.
If you think businesses are the only source of hazardous waste, you may be surprised. There is hazardous household waste as well. For example, do you use any of the following items?:
• automotive products, such as gasoline, antifreeze, and batteries
• oil-based paints and thinners
• pool chemicals
• pesticides, herbicides, and other garden products
• household cleaning products
There are non-toxic alternatives to many of these products that, when disposed of, do not constitute hazardous waste. Check with a local “green consumer” organization or find out more in the related resources section of this exhibit. [Find Out about Possible Solutions]
Related resources from www.eWasteDisposal.net for your information.
Web Sites
Waste Management:
U.S. Department of Energy: Office of Waste Management
http://www.energy.gov/environment/wastemanagement.htm
Information and fact sheets on waste treatment, storage, and disposal.
Keep America Beautiful: Info on Waste Management
http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Focus_litter_prevention
Resources on recycling, litter prevention, composting, and more.
City of Santa Monica Sustainable City Program
http://www.ci.santa-monica.ca.us/environment/
Find out about this community’s approach to waste management and sustainable development.
Residua Resource Recovery Forum
http://www.residua.com/
The Resource Recovery Forum is a network of more than 60 organisations with a shared interest in seeing society achieve more sustainable waste management – making better use of waste that is produced.
Precycling: How to Shop for Future Generations
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=2194
Tips to help you make environmentally responsible choices when shopping.
The Facts Are In: Recycling Works
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=302
A brief article on the benefits of recycling.
Recycle City
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/
Games and information about recycling, created by the EPA.
General Environment :
California EPA Education and the Environment Initiative Curriculum
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Education/EEI/default.htm
K-12th grade curriculum comprised of 85 units teaching select science and history-social science academic standards.
Earth Day
http://envirolink.org/earthday/index.html
Find out about the history of this yearly event and what’s planned for your area this year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/
The EPA’s site offers help for industries, ideas for teachers and students, and suggestions for concerned citizens.
The Environmental Defense Fund
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/home.cfm
Fact sheets, reports, and publications that cover recycling, composting, and other environmental issues.
EnviroLink
http://www.envirolink.org/index.html
Offers a wealth of information on environmental topics.
Environmental Organization Web Directory
http://www.webdirectory.com/
A directory of environmental organizations and related Web sites.
Environmental News Network
http://www.enn.com
Get the latest environmental news from around the globe.
EcoMall
http://www.ecomall.com/homepage.htm
“A place to help save the Earth,” EcoMall offers tips on shopping for environmentally friendly products, plus much more.
Sustainable Building Sourcebook
http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/
A detailed online guidebook to constructing a home with sustainable materials.
Books:
50 Simple Things Your Business Can Do to Save the Earth
by Earthworks Group. Publishers’ Group West, 1991.
Art and Science of Dumpster Diving
by John Hoffman. Loompanics Unlimited, 1993.
Beyond Recycling: A Re-Users’s Guide
by Kathy Stein. Clear Light, 1997.
Choose to Reuse: An Encyclopedia of Services, Businesses, Tools & Charitable
Programs That Facilitate Reuse
by Nikki Goldbeck and David Goldbeck. Ceres Press, 1995.
Clean House, Clean Planet: Manual to Free Your Home of 14 Common Hazard
Household Products
by Karen Logan. Pocket Books, 1997.
The Garbage Primer
by Pamela Murphy. Lyons Press, 1993.
Natural Systems for Waste Management and Treatment
by Sherwood C. Reed. McGraw-Hill, 1995.
Recycling in America: A Reference Handbook
by Debra L. Strong. ABC-CLIO, 1997.
The Toilet Papers: Recycling Waste and Conserving Water
by Lim Van Der Ryn. Chelsea Green, 1995.
Treatment Wetlands
by Robert H. Kadlec. Lewis Publishers, 1996.
War on Waste: Can America Win the Battle With Garbage?
by Louis Blumberg. Island Press, 1991.
