EPA to Reconsider Treatment of Hazardous Waste
In response to a petition by the Sierra Club over the EPA’s definition of hazardous waste and how to dispose of it, the agency will hold a public meeting on June 30 to address possible revisions and their environmental impact.
The EPA passed a new ruling on how hazardous waste is regulated in October 2008 that encouraged recycling of certain materials by removing “unnecessary regulatory controls.” The Sierra Club argues that the loosening of regulations “substantially increases threats to public health and the environment without producing compensatory benefits.”
As an example, the Sierra Club writes that of 218 cases in which mismanagement of hazardous waste led to damage to health or the environment, only 4 percent occurred at facilities operating with a more stringent RCRA Part B permit.
A response letter from the industries responsible for manufacturing everything from paper to paint argued that the newest ruling was actually a 15-year process in which environmental groups were able to voice their concerns. They claim that the new ruling will provide “significant economic benefits for struggling industries in this country.”
Some HHW products contain heavy metal such as lead, mercury or chemicals that can cause air pollution and is regulated on a state-by-state basis to prevent improper disposal. Photo: Denvergov.org
How Does HHW Disposal Work?
The term “household hazardous waste” implies that a material can produce an environmental or health issue when it comes to disposal.
Whether it’s the presence of a heavy metal such as lead or mercury or chemicals that can cause air pollution, HHW is regulated on a state-by-state basis to prevent improper disposal. Hazardous products can include any of the following:
- Batteries
- Cleaning supplies
- Electronics
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Paints and solvents
- Pharmaceuticals
- Yard maintenance supplies
In some cases, the materials can be broken down and various parts recycled. For example, electronics can be shredded to collect plastics and precious metals like gold and copper. Latex paint can also be recycled by mixing various colors together to make light-colored primers.
Other products, such as household cleaners and pesticides, are an end-life product and unable to be recycled. In these cases, the materials are put in a separate landfill that is double lined to prevent leakage.
Because of the process involved, HHW disposal can be expensive. Many communities offer the service only a few times per year on HHW collection days, as opposed to the weekly pick-up of easier to recycle goods like aluminum cans and paper. Some states have also addressed budget cuts by removing HHW programs entirely.
