All over the world, people have set routines that they hardly ever change when it comes to maintaining their homes. When a product proves to be efficient in its task, that same product will remain in the cabinet shelves or in the garage until a better product is introduced. We go through our lives everyday, sometimes doing the exact same routine, not knowing that there are certain things and materials that we use that pose a health risk on each and every one of us. Many people think that hazardous waste removal is one such thing that should be left for professional companies to solve, but in truth, each person has a responsibility to maintain his or her home so that any potentially toxic material is removed. It's true that bigger groups and organisations do play an important part in the whole process, but it's the smaller things that individuals personally choose to do in their homes that make the difference.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines hazardous waste to have the following elements: any product that contains chemicals that are in the EPA's list of potentially toxic or acutely toxic materials, is a product of a process that has resulted in the generation of hazardous waste, corrosive, ignitable, reactive, and the most obvious, toxic materials. They have also set regulations that hazardous waste producers who produce over 200kg of waste every year are required to register with the EPA so that hazardous waste can be removed from their site (Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005).
In each home, at least one type of potentially hazardous waste can be found. In garages, paint, motor oil and pesticide are some examples of these. Paint can be latex-based or oil-based, and depending on which kind, contains varying amounts of toxic elements, some of which include petrochemicals, alkyd solvents, and acrylic or vinyl resins. Motor oil is also one such example. The sad truth is that ever year, because of not having the proper information, people are disposing of approximately 250 million gallons of motor oil the wrong way. Motor oil contains lead and hydrocarbons in very high, toxic levels, and as such, can kill plants and wildlife and can contaminate groundwater when it is absorbed. It is so lethal that one drop can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water. If you imagine the potential damage, that can cause, the picture is horrific. Finally, you have pesticide. Americans use up to 300 million pounds of these chemical pesticides each year. These can also endanger a human or an animal's life when it is inhaled or ingested because they contain dangerous chemicals such as propoxur, methoxyclor and diazinon. These are elements and ingredients that one needs to be wary of.
In your bathroom, you can still find dangerous waste. It may come as a surprise to anyone, but prescription drugs can potentially be hazardous if they are not disposed of properly. How? Imagine a scenario when a 3-year old gains access to these and thinks they are just candies. Prescription drugs have the good purpose of aiding our bodies when they are plagued with sickness, but when placed in inexperienced hands, they are very toxic. They're not the only items we need to be wary of. Underneath most sinks are where the drain cleaners are kept. Loaded with chlorine bleaches, sulphuric or hydrochloric acids, these items can cause chemical burns. Other cleaning solvents need to be properly disposed as well – specifically those that are meant for scouring basins, tubs and tiles.
Other items that need proper disposal are light bulbs, batteries, and air fresheners (notorious for its ozone-depleting properties). The following are also considered hazardous waste: aerosol products, button batteries, rechargeable batteries, fluorescent lights, mothballs, nail polish, nail polish remover, oven cleaner, spot removers, mercury-containing thermometers, concrete cleaner, driveway sealer, furniture stripper, solvent-containing glue, paint remover, paint thinner, roofing tar, varnish, wood preservatives, bug spray, charcoal lighter fluid, fertilizer (that contains weed killers), insect killer, pool chemicals, rodent bait, auto batteries, brake fluid, carburettor cleaner, degreasers, fuels, oil filters and used antifreeze. As you probably might have noticed, these are all common household items that you might see or have in your very own home.
In many homes, proper hazardous waste removal is a concept which is unfamiliar to its occupants because they have not been informed about the same. Very few people know about the dangerous and potentially lethal effects of improper hazardous waste removal that may impact them and their immediate surroundings. To remedy this, the governments, schools and universities, and some organisations (both public and private) have made their stand to promote proper hazardous waste removal in their local communities, and in some cases, to the whole of America, and even to the world.
Several campaigns have been introduced to increase awareness of proper hazardous waste removal. One such campaign is the promotion of the use of alternatives to these toxic materials. Some of these include replacing air fresheners with cinnamon and cloves (simmer, and let the scent release itself), brass polish with Worcestershire sauce, cleaners with baking soda, deodorisers with used lemons, bleach with Borax, degreaser with baby oil, laundry detergent with basic soap, mosquito repellent by citronella oil, oil-based paints with water-based non-aerosol paints, and more.
Hazardous waste removal is a topic discussed in a lot of schools, even organisations, but is never really given much thought to. This is a problem that needs to be addressed, because improper hazardous waste removal has massive impacts on the environment and human health.
Human effects of improper hazardous waste removal are sickness and death (in worst-case scenarios). Take a look at some of these historic incidents:
- In 1966, in Detroit, the nuclear reactor Fermi 1 suffered a partial meltdown
- In the 1970s, several birth defects were found to have been caused by a toxic waste dump
- In 1979, a nuclear power plant meltdown occurred in Three Mile Island
- In 1979, 15 people in Woburn, Massachusetts, died due to a toxic dump nearby
- In 2006, an unknown type of hazardous waste contained in a hazardous waste plant in North Carolina triggered a fire and some explosions that emitted a lethal cloud of chlorine gas which had a greenish-yellowish glow. More than 17,000 locals were evacuated from just outside Raleigh. About 44 of these people were taken to the hospital after complaints of difficulty in breathing.
Perhaps one of the most chilling pictures of the effects of improper hazardous waste removal is children who become contaminated by playing on landfills or toxic waste dumps. Of course, in their minds, it's all about fun and discovering objects in the dump. A BBC report indicated that some birth defects have been found to be linked to living near toxic waste dumps. In fact, research has found evidence that babies whose mothers live near these toxic waste dumps are more likely to suffer physical defects and illnesses such as spina bifida and heart malformation.
The effects of improper hazardous waste removal are also seen in the environment. One of its most terrifying consequences is its effect on the cleanliness of water. Water is one of man's necessities, and its contamination limits it's use. When hazardous waste is thrown in the rivers, aquatic life is threatened. Fish that can be eaten by humans are killed by the poison. Leaking underground storage tanks for fuel have also caused widespread contamination in numerous wells in America. The problem is while most authorities are aware of the problem, sometimes nothing is done about it, even when the solution is only as simple as replacing faulty tanks and pipes.
Ultimately, the question is whether or not you want to do something about it – not the government, not organisations, but you. People often say that change starts from within, and it usually begins from one person who is passionate enough to induce a ripple effect across different groups. An important thing to think about when making your stand is its impact on future generations, future families, and our beloved Earth and ozone layer years after your death. Will the Earth still be a safe place to live in? If proper hazardous waste removal isn't practised today, will future families benefit or will they be subject to more harm than good? The bottom line is that there is a good reason behind introducing concepts like this to households. It promotes wellness of life, safety and hygiene, and, above all, care for the environment.
To sum it up, this is the simple truth: improper hazardous waste removal is a serious and ever-present threat to human health and to the environment, and if people don't do something about it, they will suffer the consequences. Too often, people take the Earth for granted. No one really realises the impact a little thing can create until it actually happens – and by then, it could be too late. So do your own thing in your own way and see the difference it makes. Take the right steps towards hazardous waste removal and save the Earth for posterity.
