Hazardous waste violations are a common occurrence and can pose risks to your coworkers, your community, your environment, and your business. In addition to putting everyone in danger, improper handling of waste can violate the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which was enacted to protect human health and the environment. Each year, millions of dollars in property damage is done due to hazardous waste incidents, with only a small percentage from natural causes. This means that these accidents are preventable! Remember that education is key. Learning the rules and regulations that help create (and keep) a safe working environment start with you.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common hazardous waste violations:

• Waste Identification – One of the most common mistakes is incorrect identification of waste. It is important to properly label all waste with their appropriate codes and UHCs (underlying hazardous constituents).
• Inspections – According to RCRA, inspections of hazardous waste areas and containers should occur on a weekly basis. Keeping your records current with all necessary information and proper documentation is vital to a good inspection.
• Reporting – Stay up-to-date and submit facility reports in a timely manner.
• Container Management – Containers that are open (when not in use) or in poor condition are in violation.
• Marking/Dating Containers – Correct labels and dates on containers are a requirement.
• Preparation, Prevention, and Contingency Plans – Always be ready for an emergency with a contingency plan.
• Personnel Training – Improper or lack of training can cause dangerous conditions and pose risks to all. In addition, contingency plans cannot be executed properly without trained personnel. Make sure all employees are educated in how to perform their daily jobs in a safe manner and what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Tank Management – Ensure tanks are in good condition, clear of leaks and overflows.
• Transporter and Manifest Requirements – Transportation of hazardous waste must utilize the manifest system with signature of acceptance.
• Improper Management of Expired Hazardous Waste – Failure to track and properly dispose of expired chemicals can result in violations and regulatory fines.
• Universal Waste Management – I.e., used batteries, fluorescent lamps, mercury-containing equipment, & pesticides must be labeled “universal waste” and containers must be kept securely closed when not in use.
• Improper Disposal of Hazardous Waste – Disposal of hazardous waste into municipal dumpsters or sewer systems is a violation.

These are common mistakes that can easily be avoided with proper education, planning, and good management. Reduce your risk. And start today.

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Looking for some environmental tips to help you stay green? Being environmentally conscious is important for everybody. Here are some great (and easy!) environmental tips to help yourself, your community, and your planet.

Environmental Tips Everyone Can Get Behind:

GREEN TIPS:

A cleaner way to clean

Did you know? 80% of dry cleaners in the U.S. use perchloroethylene, a solvent that has been linked to cancer, nervous system damage and hormonal disruption. Seek out a non-toxic professional dry cleaning alternative or “green cleaner” in your area.

If your washing machine has a setting for the amount of clothing you’re washing, choose a low setting—you’ll use less water and your clothes will get just as clean. Using cold water can save up to 80% of the energy required to wash clothes.

Use less hot water. Washing your clothes in cold or warm instead of hot water can save as much as 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

The average washing machine uses about 41 gallons of water per load, whereas newer, high-efficiency models use less than 28 gallons of water per load.

A bright idea

Did you know? Only 10% of the energy used by an incandescent bulb produces light; the rest is given off as heat. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are up to 4 times as efficient as incandescent bulbs.

Replacing one incandescent lightbulb with a compact fluorescent light can save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. CFLs produce the same amount of light, use 1/3 of the electricity and last up to 10 times as long.

Artificial lighting accounts for 44% of electricity use in office buildings. Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you’re leaving any room for 15 minutes or more and utilize natural light when you can.

Green grocer

Did you know? In North America, fruits and vegetables travel an average of 1,500 miles before reaching your plate. Buying fresh, local food eliminates long distances traveled and preserves flavor and nutrients.

The US uses 100 billion plastic bags annually, consuming about 12 million barrels of oil. Less than 1% of plastic bags are ever recycled. Reusable bags can help reduce the number of plastic bags you use.

A home run

Did you know? A leaky faucet that fills a coffee cup in 10 minutes will waste an estimated 3,000 gallons of water per year.

Improperly sealed or caulked windows can account for up to 25% of total heat loss from a house.

Choose low-toxic paints that are low in volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which can irritate the lungs and cause allergic reactions. Zero-VOC paints also are available.

If using solid wood for a project, select products with the Forest Stewardship Council label, certifying the wood was responsibly grown and harvested. Or find salvaged wood products at local used-building materials retailers.

Waste not

Did you know? Polystyrene (“Styrofoam”) is difficult to recycle, both because recycling facilities aren’t commonplace and you can’t make it into new high-quality polystyrene.

Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Reuse containers and reduce waste. The average child’s school lunch generates 67 pounds of waste over a year.

Batteries can cause serious harm to human health and the environment when disposed of with municipal solid waste. Many companies and retailers will take your old batteries and properly dispose of them or have them recycled.

Did you know? 26 recycled PET plastic bottles equals a polyester suit. 5 recycled PET bottles make enough fiberfill to stuff a ski jacket.

According to US EPA, about 40% of heavy metals including lead, mercury and cadmium in landfills comes from electronic equipment and discards.

Now you’re cooking!

Did you know? Generating enough electricity to cook for an hour in a standard electric oven creates 2.7 pounds of CO2. A toaster oven creates 1.3 pounds over 50 minutes; a microwave creates 0.5 pounds over 15 minutes.

Use a microwave instead of the stove to save energy. Microwave ovens use around 50% less energy than conventional ovens do.

Did you know? The average dishwasher in US homes today uses 8.7 gallons of water per load. Washing by hand for 10 minutes with water running can use 20 gallons.

Today’s dishwashers are about 95% more energy-efficient than those bought in 1972—your old dishwasher may be costing you more in energy bills than it would take to buy a new one.

Down the drain

Did you know? If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses between 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. Newer, high-efficiency toilets use less than 1.3 gallons per flush.

Older showerheads can use 3 gallons per minute or more. New, efficient models use 2 gallons per minute or less. A family of four using low-flow showerheads instead of full-flow models can save about 20,000 gallons of water per year.

Letting your faucet run for 5 minutes uses about as much energy as a 60-watt lightbulb consumes in 14 hours.

A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a 5-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.

See the forest for the trees

Did you know? The average US citizen uses 50 pounds of tissue paper per year. Try to buy the highest content of post-consumer recycled content, looking for either 100% recycled or FSC certified tissue or toilet paper.

Consider switching to e-billing. In the US, paper products make up the largest percentage of municipal solid waste, and hard copy bills alone generate almost 2 million tons of CO2.

Plant a tree. An average tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

The average US office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper per year. Print on both sides and in draft mode whenever feasible.

Easy Money

Did you know? US consumers spend up to 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for tap water.

Refrigerators account for 1/6 of a home’s energy use. Opening the door accounts for between $30 and $60 of a typical family’s electricity bill each year. Select energy-efficient models when buying replacements.

Many idle electronics—TVs, DVD players, stereos, microwaves—use energy even when switched off to keep display clocks lit and remote controls working. Switch off power strips and unplug electrical devices when you’re not using them.

To see the full article, visit WWF’s website.

Feel like you can do even more? That’s what we like to hear! Make sure you stay up-to-date on all of your environmental compliance training, too. View all of envicomply’s environmental training courses by visiting our shop page now.

February is American Heart Month. And the air around us is one factor that affects our heart’s health every day. Air pollution can trigger both heart attacks and strokes. In fact, did you know that one in three Americans has heart disease which can be worsened by air pollution? Make sure you stay educated on air quality and pollution for you and the safety of others.

Some Heart Facts:

• Heart disease and stroke are the first and fourth leading causes of death in the U.S.
• Air pollution can affect heart health and can trigger heart attacks and strokes that cause disability and death.
• One in three American adults has heart or blood vessel disease and is at higher risk from air pollution

We may not think about our everyday air quality, but emissions and pollutants are all around us. Whether it’s a job requirement or for your own health, learning about air quality, sources of pollution, and what you can do to minimize other health problems are all topics of importance.

Here are some other good resources to keep you informed about your local air quality:

• Air Quality Index (AQI) – Air quality assessments to indicate how clean or polluted your air is
• AirCompare – Compare the air quality in different U.S. counties
• Sign Up for Air Quality Notifications – Sign up for email or cell phone notifications when the air quality gets into unhealthy ranges

And if it IS a requirement for your job, make sure you stay up-to-date on all of your environmental and safety training here. Envicomply offers the compliance training you need in air pollution, air quality awareness, and preventative measures. Shop our relevant training now: