The improper handling of hazardous waste has devastating consequences for public health and the general environment. Companies that generate hazardous waste must follow rules and regulations related to waste management.
It is also important for these business owners to keep in mind that hazardous waste is not the same as biohazardous waste. Both types of waste must be managed differently to avoid air, soil, and water contamination. If this is not done, waste will continue to disrupt ecosystems while endangering human and animal life.
To understand the impact of mismanaged waste, we must first distinguish between hazardous and biohazardous waste.
Hazardous waste includes materials that are either toxic, flammable, or reactive. It can also include corrosive materials. This means anything from industrial solvents to pesticides and heavy metals like mercury and lead. These materials can severely threaten the environment if not handled and disposed of properly.
Biohazardous waste refers to waste that contains biological materials. These materials can cause infections or disease. Examples of biohazardous waste include used syringes, laboratory cultures, and animal or human tissue. Biohazardous waste is typically generated in healthcare settings, research labs, and veterinary clinics.
When hazardous waste ends up in the wrong places, it causes long-lasting damage to the ecosystem. This includes:
Soil contamination. Sometimes, hazardous waste is dumped in landfills without being properly contained. When this happens, toxic substances seep into the soil. Depending on the severity of the seepage, the contamination can make the land unsuitable for agriculture or habitation.
For instance, heavy metals like lead can stay in the soil for decades. This affects plant growth and can also enter the food chain.
Water pollution. Hazardous materials can also end up in bodies of water. This includes rivers, lakes, and oceans, where it harms aquatic life and, eventually, communities that rely on the water.
Leachate, a toxic liquid produced when rainwater filters through waste, significantly contaminates groundwater.
Air pollution. If a company incinerates hazardous waste without the proper control measures, it can release toxic gases and matter into the atmosphere. Dioxins and furans, often produced during combustion, are carcinogenic and greatly contribute to air pollution.
Impact on wildlife. Toxic substances in hazardous waste can poison wildlife. Pesticides, for example, leach into waterways, harming fish populations. This domino effect impacts birds and other predators relying on these fish populations for food.
There is a misconception that biohazardous waste is less environmentally harmful than hazardous waste. This is not entirely true because the mismanagement of biohazardous waste leads to a unique series of risks.
Pathogen spread. The improper disposal of syringes and infected tissues can easily lead to the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. When this type of waste enters waterways and landfills, it is easy for diseases to breed. It can also be the starting point of a public health crisis.
Water contamination. When biohazardous waste is not properly treated, pathogens released into water affect ecosystems and human populations. Under such conditions, it becomes incredibly easy for cholera and typhoid to spread.
Impact on workers and wildlife. Biohazardous waste that is not contained exposes sanitation workers and animals to infections. When scavenging animals come into contact with contaminated waste, they become disease carriers. This means they can spread disease to other animals and humans.
Things get much worse when hazardous and biohazardous materials are mixed. A mix of hazardous and biological materials can sometimes produce toxic gas or even explosions.
Moreover, biohazardous waste exposed to certain hazardous chemicals can become even more infectious. Mixed waste also makes it a lot harder for clean-up efforts to have the desired effect and may have double the harmful impact on ecosystems.
Companies that generate hazardous and biohazardous waste must make all possible efforts to manage and dispose of it properly. They must also ensure that they follow all rules and regulations related to waste management.
This is where waste management service providers can make all the difference. A reliable and reputable provider can ensure that waste is disposed of safely and sustainably. Such a provider also ensures that companies are always in compliance with regulations.
Adopting the right waste management practices in 2024 and beyond is not optional. It is an imperative measure that continues to protect vulnerable ecosystems, populations, and wildlife.
Everyone with a stake in a business or facility that creates waste has a role to play in protecting Earth from the consequences of waste mismanagement.
