Six Steps for Hazardous Waste Storage and Non-Hazardous Waste Storage
Typical Hazardous Waste Storage Problems
Having trouble keeping a handle on your hazardous waste storage and non-hazardous waste? Is your waste storage area getting out of hand? Are your hazardous and non-hazardous wastes getting mixed together? Is your storage area too small? You are not alone.
It is easy to let your waste storage area get out of control before you realize it. It’s important to keep a close eye on who is placing drums in the waste storage area and what is in the drums. If you don’t manage the area it can become costly.
Six Steps to Better Track Hazardous Waste Storage and Non-Hazardous Wastes
- Be sure to separate your hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Combining them all into the same drum can be problematic. If you combine both types of waste in the same drum you must dispose all of it as a hazardous waste, which is more expensive. It’s important to segregate your waste streams and ensure hazardous and non-hazardous materials are stored separately. This will save on disposal costs. Hazardous waste costs more to dispose than non-hazardous wastes.
- Set up a designated storage area and keep good track of the inventory as it is deposited. Once you reach a certain predetermined threshold in the storage area then schedule a pick-up of your waste by the waste hauler. If you have a large amount of waste on a regular basis have the waste hauler schedule a weekly or monthly pick-up. This will prevent your storage area from becoming too full and invading other areas.
- Consider allowing only specified individuals to deposit waste in the storage area. By limiting who can add waste to the storage area, those individuals can keep better track of the inventory and schedule pick-ups when needed.
- Always separate incompatible wastes in the storage area.
- Always ensure drums are properly labeled and have the accumulation start date (for hazardous wastes).
- Be sure hazardous waste drums are hauled off-site before the allotted time frame (90 or 180 days).
Turn-Key’s professional staff can assist you in setting up your system for hazardous and non-hazardous waste storage and reporting. For more information and case studies click here.
