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What You Should Know About High-Hazard Waste

May 27, 2016

The seriousness of hazardous waste alone is typically enough to raise concern for generators of such materials. Imagine, then, what kind of concern the thought of high-hazard waste could potentially stir up. But what exactly is high-hazard waste, and how should generators deal with it?

What is High-Hazard Waste?

Most environmental companies have the capability to dispose of the vast majority of a facility’s waste. However, a small amount of material often remains in items like chemical cylinders. And while it may seem like that’s not a big deal, this material can, for example, be highly reactive due to age, the environment it’s stored in (exposure to heat, light, etc.), or just due to its general nature. For that reason, these types of materials may need remediation or further stabilization.

Given this, it’s absolutely vital to understand the chemicals you have on hand and, should it be necessary, to have any unknown chemicals stored at your facility profiled.

What Are Some Examples of High-Hazard Waste?

As previously mentioned, chemical cylinders can often contain high-hazard waste and compounds. Some examples of chemicals that fall into the high-hazard category are:

  • Isopropyl Ether
  • 1,4-Dioxane
  • Tert-Butyl Peroxyacetate
  • Mercuric azide
  • Picrylsulfonic acid
  • Trinitrophenol
  • Ammonium nitrate
  • Diethylaluminum chloride
  • Copper(I) acetylide
  • Other strong oxidizers
  • Other water-reactive materials

While these are some commonly known high-hazard wastes, the list is certainly not all-encompassing and there are many others out there that pose a significant threat.

What Are Some Typical High-Hazard Waste Services?

With the potential harm these types of wastes can do, it’s absolutely essential that you have them disposed of or remediated professionally. Some typical examples of services offered by a company who deals with high-hazard waste are cylinder management, material repacks and redirects, reactive stabilization, and other remediation methods.

These methods always include proper safety procedures, such as choosing the correct personal protection equipment when handling different types of high-hazard waste and following the correct chemical treatment methodologies for the given waste.

It’s vital that these steps be taken because any small misstep in the process could have a catastrophic impact on both the individuals dealing with the material or, potentially, those in the surrounding areas.

At Hazardous Waste Experts, we take the danger and risks of high-hazard waste very seriously. Should you need services for these types of materials, we provide the safest, most compliant, cost-efficient, and innovative services you’ll find. Not only that, but we’re a nationwide company and can get to you no matter where you might be located. If you’d like to speak with our team of hazardous waste disposal experts regarding any waste you may have, give us a call at 800-936-2311 or click here to email us.

Disposal of hazardous waste doesn’t have to be painful.