Five Signs of Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is recognised as having substantial risks to human health as well as the environment, that’s why it requires specialist care. So, what makes hazardous waste, hazardous? Well, whether it’s a liquid, solid or an item these types of materials will show at least one of five common hazardous characteristics.

Here’s all you need to know.



What are the properties of hazardous waste?

Hazardous materials cannot be disposed of in the same way that regular waste can. Instead, they require professional disposal methods to ensure they are managed safely, recycled where possible and have a limited impact on the environment.

The five properties of hazardous waste include:

Corrosive

A corrosive substance is one that will damage other substances when it comes into close contact due to a chemical reaction. These types of materials include those with high alkaline or acidity levels such as batteries or cleaning agents.

Reactive

Did you know that materials that are classed as reactive are those which have an extreme reaction with air and water, therefore making them unstable in normal conditions? As a result, this reaction can give off harmful gases and may even turn the substance explosive!

Toxic

Another hazardous property is toxicity. This is recognised when a substance is considered harmful when ingested or absorbed leading to serious health issues. For example, asbestos, mercury, arsenic, synthetic pesticides and more all come under this category. Disposing of this waste in a safe manner is so important to limit any risk of fatal accidents or contamination to nearby environments.

Ignitable

A material that catches alight easily when exposed to flames or sparks is classified as ignitable - this is why they need to be handled separately from other waste. Ignitable substances include materials as well as liquids with flash points below 60 degrees, compressed gases and solids that cause fires when in specific conditions.

Infectious

Waste that contained contaminants (also known as biohazard) can harm humans. This usually includes waste such as blood, mucus, vomit or products used in the treatment of infectious patients. In most cases, this type of waste is produced by medical facilities.

Choose Broughshire Waste Metals as your hazardous waste experts in Bridgend. We can collect and dispose of hazardous waste such as fridges, WEEE waste, TV's, computer monitors and batteries. We also work with external companies to ensure that chemical waste is handled in a safe and responsible manner. Get in touch with us today for more information.