Types Of Hazardous Waste Disposal Methods

Every company that handles potentially hazardous materials starts with prevention plans—the best way to serve your clients and protect your business is by not having a hazardous waste emergency in the first place. But once the prevention plans are in place, it’s just as important to have a plan ready for the removal of hazardous waste. Cactus Environmental Services specializes in helping DFW-area businesses with both standard hazardous waste disposal methods when it’s part of your ongoing business operations, and sudden hazardous waste disposal needs when something goes wrong. Learn more about your options for hazardous waste disposal and how Cactus Environmental Services is here to help with disposing of hazardous wastes.

What Is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is a broad category for any waste that can present a danger to human health—either directly during cleanup or if it’s disposed of through typical methods like municipal drainage. Hazardous waste can be solid, liquid, or gas material. Some common types of hazardous waste that businesses might generate include manufacturing product waste, waste sludge, chemical spills, or anything else that may be subject to RCRRA Subtitle C or other hazardous waste regulations. Paint, spent wood, acidic byproducts from producing beverages, and even solids like circuit boards and batteries are on the long list of hazardous waste materials. At Cactus Environmental Services, we provide services for the removal of hazardous waste for:

• Site cleanups, like chemical spills and environmental remediation
• Large-scale tank cleaning at industrial locations.
• Environmental decommissioning for sites transitioning away from large commercial or industrial activities.
• Emergency responses to hazardous waste disasters, such as oil spills.
• Waste brokerage for clients that need hazardous waste management solutions as an ongoing part of their business.

For most forms of hazardous waste disposal, the two main processes are landfill disposal and underground disposal.

Landfill Disposal

Nonliquid hazardous waste can be disposed of in landfills. Landfills are sites that are either excavated or engineered to hold hazardous contents safely, and they include safety features that minimize the risk of the landfill’s contents interacting with the local environment. They often feature HDPE or clay linings to prevent leaks or seepage. This is a common option for disposing of hazardous wastes that humans should not make contact with but which present relatively minimal risk. To use landfill disposal, you can work with a waste management broker or cleanup service. They will safely gather the waste for transportation, clean up the affected site, and transport both the hazardous waste and the cleanup material to the landfill for permanent disposal.

Underground Disposal

Underground disposal is a similar option, and it’s commonly used for waste that does present more of a potential risk based on proximity or the risk of a leak. Underground disposal sites are often inactive or downsized mines that are properly rated for holding waste contents. This option is selected for holding radioactive waste, such as from mining, laboratory uses, nuclear fuel production, or radioactively contaminated waste from medical and dental facilities. Your waste broker or third-party cleanup service can help you evaluate your options to choose the right method for disposing of hazardous wastes, or they can manage the entire decision-making process on your behalf. Both methods can successfully remove the waste from your site or areas affected by your company.

Contact Cactus Environmental Services for Hazardous Waste Disposal

At Cactus Environmental Services, we serve DFW companies with comprehensive hazardous waste cleanup and removal of hazardous waste. We provide sustainable disposal methods that are effective and align with your ESG goals or eco-friendly initiatives. Whether producing hazardous waste is a result of your ongoing business operations or you need support after a spill, our team is ready to safely dispose of the waste and minimize disruption to your business. Reach out today to learn more.

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