If you have hazardous waste on hand, you can very easily cause significant harm to your local environment, economy, and the people who live alongside you. To prevent this harm, you should always make every effort to work with waste disposal experts who can ensure that you have the right equipment to work with.
But how does improper waste disposal actually harm our environment? There are so many kinds of hazardous waste that all cause different problems. We produce dozens of types of waste even throughout our daily lives, and each one needs to be disposed of properly.
What Is Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous waste is any toxic waste material that poses a threat to the health and safety of people, animals, and the ecosystem. These materials are typically dangerous to handle and require additional treatment to dispose of properly. Improper disposal can lead to many critical dangers. There are four common traits among hazardous materials:
Ignitability
Anything that quickly burns is a hazardous material, which can cause fires, damage the environment, and release toxic gases. This includes:
- Oil Based Products
- Fuel and Gas
- Aerosols
Reactivity
Some hazardous wastes react readily with other chemicals, leading to fires or more dangerous precipitates. This includes:
- Batteries
- Household Cleaners
- Electronics
Corrosivity
Corrosive substances can wear down surfaces and structures, leading to physical or chemical damage to the environment. This includes:
- Battery Acid
- Household Cleaners
- Paint Thinner
Toxicity
Toxic substances are poisonous and can cause harm if they come into contact with living creatures. This includes:
- Asbestos
- Mercury
- Medical Waste
- Pesticides
- Radioactive Waste
Any of these materials should be disposed of properly, either by using specific waste containers or by handing them off to professional waste disposal experts. But what harm can come from improper waste disposal?
Landfill Contamination May Spread
Landfills are not simply a hole in the ground. These places where our waste is stored are commonly lined to prevent leakage of waste liquids into groundwater. This lining can be eroded or dissolved if caustic chemicals are improperly disposed of.
This can lead to public health hazards if contamination enters the water supply that feeds a town or city. Additionally, ignitable or reactive materials can cause fires that may spread beyond landfills.
Pollution Damages the Air, Water, And Soil
Pollution is the ultimate result of improper waste disposal. Proper waste disposal allows us to track, maintain, and contain our waste materials. When this isn’t done, those materials degrade and spread throughout the environment via animals, plants, and wind and water movement.
Contaminated soil can cause harm to plants or the animals that eat them. Similarly, water pollution can build up in animals through plankton. Air pollution can be caused by decomposing materials that lead to greenhouse gases.
Local Flora and Fauna Can Become Sick or Die
Improper waste disposal can lead to the death or weakening of wildlife, including water-based creatures and plants. Soil contamination leads to plants and fungus soaking up harmful chemicals or heavy metals. This leads to harm when any creature eats their fruiting bodies.
If this waste reaches bodies of water, the harm caused can spread far more quickly. Rivers can become dammed from scrap metal, and lakes and ponds can become toxic, killing critical animal life.
Public Health Can Be Threatened
When waste is improperly disposed of, it can cause disease outbreaks or life-threatening health conditions. Dumpsites can become breeding grounds for pests and disease-carrying flies, mosquitos, and rats. These creatures are mobile and often unafraid of humans.
People can receive illnesses from insect bites, eat contaminated foods, or drink contaminated water. This can quickly cause digestive ailments, parasites, and other major health issues. Preventing illnesses and diseases can be as simple as working with local waste disposal experts.
Local Economy Can Fall
Hazardous materials and improper waste dumpsites can also cause damage to the local economy. Appearance is everything in today’s day and age. Piles of trash and reeking waste on the side of the road are not just unsightly. They lead to unhygienic living conditions.
This can give your town a reputation for uncaring or actively harmful people, putting off investors and tourists. The local economy might stall and fall behind your neighboring cities. Agricultural areas can see the most dramatic impact since their livelihood is connected so closely to the environment’s health.
Greenhouse Gases Cause Global Warming
Hazardous wastes will degrade and lead to an increased carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. Methane is one of the most common global warming gases, which captures heat from the sun, causing warmer temperatures and destabilizing weather.
Every step to inhibit or reverse global warming is valuable to economies requiring cold winters, safe weather, and comfortable environments. Preventing further degradation of the environment isn’t just a local step to protect your home – it’s a global movement.
Keep Your Town Clean with Cobblestone Waste Management!
As you can see, improper waste disposal harms our world and local environment in many ways. One of the best ways to display your thoughtfulness and pride in your local town is by ensuring it stays healthy, safe, and free of hazardous materials.
Whenever we dispose of waste materials, from construction debris to food waste, we should take the time to dispose of it properly. This is what we can help you with! When your next project is producing hazardous waste, make sure it is handled by a professional like us!
