When many people think of hazardous waste, they first consider the most extreme examples. For instance, disposing of radioactive materials is certainly an example of hazardous waste. If it’s not handled properly, it could cause harm to a great number of people.
But there are many examples of hazardous waste that are much more common. It’s important to understand what things qualify, especially for business owners who need to comply with environmental regulations in New York.
Oil-based paint
For example, New York classifies oil-based paint as hazardous waste. This can be an issue for homeowners who are doing their own painting projects, but it’s much more of a substantial issue for painting companies, supply shops, manufacturing plants and the like.
Chemical solutions
Many chemical solutions also count as hazardous waste. This could include home hobby chemicals, but it can also include things like cleaning solutions or corrosive materials that may be used in an industrial setting.
Certain types of lightbulbs
When compact fluorescent lightbulbs are disposed of, they can also qualify as hazardous waste. Fluorescent lighting is not that common in residential homes and apartments, but it may be heavily used in warehouses, manufacturing plants, big box stores and much more.
Automotive fluids
Finally, many automotive fluids, such as transmission fluid or used oil, count as hazardous waste. It is important for individuals to dispose of these correctly when working on their vehicles, but it’s also a major issue for automotive repair shops, oil change businesses and auto dealerships.
These are just a few examples to help illustrate how hazardous waste is often much closer than people assume. It’s critical to understand how environmental regulations work and how to dispose of these properly.
