• Spotlight on Hazardous Waste Regulations for Academic Laboratories

    Scientific inquiry is a cornerstone of academic study at the undergraduate and graduate levels. As the operator of an academic laboratory, it is essential that you set up safe and sustainable waste management services for your facility. With services from a company that specializes in waste near Atlanta , you can schedule secure trash pickup services for the hazardous waste that is generated by your lab.

    Since academic labs create unique and varied amounts of hazardous waste, they are provided with some flexibility around scheduling their hazardous waste pickups. Depending on the size of your facility, you may be designated as a large, small, or very small quantity generator. At any designation, a hazardous waste generator must create a hazardous waste management plan that follows EPA guidelines. These guidelines state that hazardous laboratory waste must be removed from the site at least once every six months. All hazardous waste management plans should be authorized by lab managers or other trained professionals.

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  • How Plastic Waste Is Affecting Our Oceans

    Millions of tons of plastic waste are dumped into the Earth’s oceans on an annual basis. This video from National Geographic shows the devastating effect that plastic waste has on the health of our oceans and marine life. With recycling serving Atlanta, you can help to keep harmful plastic out of the oceans. A company that offers recycling services can set you up with a sustainable plastic recycling program for your business.

    If you would like to learn more about how to recycle, be sure to contact your local waste management professionals. By getting the facts about proper plastic disposal, you can make sure that you are doing your part to prevent harmful materials from entering our ocean’s delicate ecosystems.

  • A Guide to Universal Waste

    Proper waste management is very important for businesses that generate hazardous materials as a part of their routine operations. If your business discards batteries, pesticides, or products that contain mercury, you are obligated to participate in the universal waste program that has been created by the EPA. A company that offers waste disposal and junk removal in Atlanta will be able to help you create a safe processing plan for the hazardous waste that is created by your business. To help you comply with EPA standards, here is a brief guide to what you need to know about universal waste. batteries - waste

    The Purpose of the Universal Waste Program

    In recent decades, the EPA has recognized that certain types of hazardous waste are frequently discarded by many different types of businesses and industries. In order to streamline the collection process and keep hazardous materials out of landfills, the EPA created the universal waste program. This program regulates the processing of hazardous waste collection, and also helps companies with the proper disposal of potentially toxic and harmful materials.

    The Types of Universal Waste

    Universal waste falls into a few, distinctive categories. Batteries are among the most common types of universal waste that businesses toss out every day. All types of batteries are considered to be hazardous once they have been placed in the trash. Other categories of universal waste include pesticides, as well as equipment and lamps that contain traceable amounts of mercury. All of these items need to be safely handled by a designated waste processing facility.

    The Categories of Universal Waste Participants

    A company’s participation in the federal universal waste program will be dictated by the quantity of hazardous waste that it handles every day. Companies that produce small amounts of waste are categorized as small quantity handlers. Larger organizations and companies that generate high volumes of hazardous waste earn the designation of large quantity handlers. No matter your designation, a waste management company will help you safely process your universal waste products.

  • Using Signage and Bins to Minimize Waste

    When you create a brand new recycling program for your business, you will need to make sure that your recycling bins are properly labeled. This video will provide you with an overview of the benefits of using signage and bins to minimize waste. By creating clear signs for your recycling bins in Atlanta, it will be possible to make sure that your customers and employees are correctly following your waste disposal strategy.

    After you have decided that you want to cut back on the waste that is generated by your business, your next step will be to rent or purchase the appropriate bins. From recycling bins to dumpsters and more, a waste management company can provide you with the tools that you need to properly dispose of your trash and recyclables.

  • Understanding the Categories of Hazardous Waste Generators

    Hazardous waste is a byproduct of many industrial processes. If your business creates hazardous waste during its daily operations, you will need to create a waste management plan that complies with federal and state regulations. A company that offers dumpster rental near Atlanta can help you manage your hazardous waste and set up regulated waste disposal services for all of your byproducts. To assist you as you create your waste management plan, here is a closer look at the three categories of hazardous waste generators. hazardous - waste

    Conditional Exempt Small Quantity Generators

    Conditional Exempt Small Quantity Generators are typically referred to as CESQGs. In order to fall into the CESQG category, a person or business must create no more than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste each month. If you or your business has recently been classified as a CESQG, you will need to make sure that you keep track of all of your daily waste products. It is also necessary to send your hazardous waste to a facility or waste management station that specializes in processing hazardous goods.

    Small Quantity Generators

    Small Quantity Generators create more than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste each month, but their hazardous waste totals must not reach more than 1,000 kilograms in a month’s time. For the first 180 days of their operations, Small Quantity Generators are allowed to operate without receiving federal hazardous waste permits. Each Small Quantity Generator must process their waste in an approved container or tank, and there also needs to be an emergency response coordinator on site to deal with unexpected leaks or spills.

    Large Quantity Generators

    Large Quantity Generators are typically major industrial facilities that create upwards of 1,000 kilograms or more of hazardous waste every month. Each Large Quantity Generator must have its own, on-site containers or approved waste disposal bins. According to EPA regulations, Large Quantity Generators must also meet all standards that are set out in the hazardous waste manifest. A Large Quantity Generator must also provide written reports to the EPA twice during each calendar year.

  • Waste Reduction Tips for Office Buildings

    Over the course of an average workweek, your office building may generate considerable amounts of solid waste. Some examples of common office building waste products include litter, paper products, and electronic goods. By encouraging your employees to recycle and scheduling weekly trash pickup services, you can cut back on the waste that your office building sends to the landfill. A company that offers waste management services can help you create a targeted plan that will help you cut back on your office waste near Atlanta. Read on for an overview of some helpful waste reduction tips to implement in your office building. recycling - tips

    Encourage Electronic Communication

    In today’s digital era, many forms of business communication can be completed online or over the phone. In order to reduce waste in your office building, you may want to encourage your workers to rely on electronic forms of communication, rather than printed memos and faxes. By cutting back on the number of paper letters and memos that you print out every day, you can achieve terrific waste reduction over the course of a business year.

    Maintain Your Office Supplies

    Office supplies, such as staplers, pens, and glue sticks, will all take up space when they are tossed in the trash and sent to the landfill. To cut back on the waste that is created by your office, you may want to encourage your workers to take care of their office supplies. Capping pens, avoiding stapler jams, and closing up glue containers will help these supplies last longer before they have to be tossed.

    Create a Recycling Program

    Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce office waste and help the environment. When you create a new recycling program for your business, you will need to make sure that all of your workers are on board with the plan. Along with placing recycling bins throughout your office space, you may want to hold a meeting where you discuss the importance of recycling. Creating recycling incentives and rewards can also help to encourage your workers to recycle.

  • What Is Dual Stream Recycling?

    When you are setting up a recycling program , you may encounter the term dual stream recycling. Dual stream and single stream recycling are two different methods for sorting recycled waste before it is sent to the processing facility. If you want ensure that your recycling methods are as sustainable as possible, you may want to consider setting up dual stream recycling services. A company that offers recycling bins in Atlanta can provide you with the containers that you need to sort your recyclables correctly.

    One of the key characteristics of dual stream recycling is that this type of recycling program requires consumers to sort their paper, glass, and plastic recycling before it is picked up for processing. By sorting your recyclables by type, you can help to cut down on recycling waste and increase the amount of recoverable material that can be sourced out of your recyclables. While single stream recycling may seem more convenient, dual stream methods can be more sustainable in the long run.

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  • Identifying Sources of Hazardous Waste in Your Small Business

    Hazardous waste may be an unexpected byproduct of your business operations. Whether you are setting up a new small business, or you have been operating for years, it is important that you identify any hazardous waste that you may generate during your workdays. A company that specializes in waste near Atlanta will be able to help you create a waste disposal plan that allows you to handle these materials correctly.

    To ensure that your waste management methods are EPA-compliant, you will need to assess and identify any hazardous waste that is created by your business. Hazardous waste is defined as any type of solid waste that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or otherwise toxic. For your reference, the EPA has created a list of more than 400 types of hazardous waste as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. By consulting with this list, you will be able to easily determine whether your business creates hazardous waste. After your hazardous waste has been identified, you will be able to create a hazardous waste management plan.

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  • Spotlight on Types of Landfills

    When you toss your garbage in the nearest dumpster, you may not give a second thought as to where it heads after it has been collected by a trash pickup service. In fact, there are several different kinds of landfills that serve various waste management functions. After you set up dumpster rental near Atlanta, you may want to ask your waste management professionals about the different types of landfills that are used to process your waste. To help you understand common waste management practices, here is an overview of three of the most common types of landfills. landfill - waste

    Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

    Household trash and rubbish is typically sent to a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, or MSWL. MSWLs are located across the United States, and each city, town, or county typically has its own landfill site. These landfills must be located at a safe distance away from neighborhoods and commercial districts, and they must also be equipped with liners and leech collection systems that prevent the surrounding groundwater from becoming contaminated.

    Industrial Waste Landfills

    An industrial waste landfill is specifically designated for the disposal of solid industrial waste products. Industrial waste landfills are engineered to safely house a variety of different types of industrial waste products, including plastic, glass, concrete, and construction debris. Along with collecting industrial waste, these landfills also serve as disposal sites for construction debris. It is important to note that hazardous waste products, such as asbestos, cannot be processed at a standard industrial waste landfill facility.

    Hazardous Waste Landfills

    A third type of landfill is known as a hazardous waste landfill. Since these landfills are designed to house many different types of hazardous waste, they are subject to strict regulations from the EPA. Every hazardous waste landfill must contain a double liner, runoff control system, and leak detection technology. Hazardous waste landfills are routinely inspected to make sure that they are not leaking harmful materials into the surrounding environment. If your business generates hazardous waste, you will need to make sure that your waste materials are being delivered to one of these landfills.