Coachella Valley businesses and residents too often improperly dispose of hazardous waste
On Tuesday, Walmart was ordered to pay $7.5 million in penalties for violating environmental regulations regarding the disposal of toxic and medical waste. The company illegally disposed of the sensitive waste in regular trash bins and then took those bins to local landfills not equipped to handle the materials.
But it's an issue many households are unintentionally doing, including in the Coachella Valley.
According to Burrtec Waste Management, they find hazardous materials being placed in the wrong bin "more often than not."
Common household hazardous wastes include but are not limited to:
- Antifreeze
- Batteries
- Drain cleaners
- Electronic wastes (e.g., TVs, computer monitors, cell phones)
- Glue and adhesives
- Household cleaners
- Oven cleaners
- Paints
- Pesticides
- Pool cleaners
- Solvents
- Used oil
- Waste containing asbestos
- Wastes containing mercury (e.g., thermometers, fluorescent lights)
Anything else that is labeled with the following is also considered HHW:
- Toxic - Poisonous or causes long-term illness (such as cancer). Pesticides, cleaners, antifreeze and many other products are toxic.
- Flammable - Burns easily. Paint, thinners and other solvents, and auto products are the most common flammable home products.
- Corrosive - Dissolves metal or human tissue (acid, for example). Oven cleaner, drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner and auto batteries are common corrosive products.
- Oxidizer - Common oxidizers contain chlorine or bromine and are good sanitizers (i.e. swimming pool chlorine).
If hazardous waste is found in regular trash, it can contaminate the entire waste stream, potentially polluting the environment through landfill leachate, contaminating recycling materials, and posing a health risk to workers handling the waste.
Officials say these items should be taken to your nearest Household Hazardous Waste facility, which you can find here.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
