Monthly Archives: June 2012

Use Proper Waste Disposal for Highway Construction Projects

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Failure to comply with proper waste disposal practices when engaged in highway construction projects can land your company in hot water with the EPA.  Earlier this month, the EPA came to an agreement with the Department of Transportation of North Dakota and Gowan Construction regarding violations of the Clean Water Act stemming from a highway construction project near the Sheyenne River.

The agreement states that Gowan will pay $40,000 in fines and the North Dakota DOT will enhance its oversight to ensure Clean Water Act compliance and training for all contractors assigned to state projects.

While individual states can maintain regulations that go beyond the limits of the United State Environmental Protection Agency, they must meet the minimum federal standards at all times. This is why it is essential for all contractors and construction firms to be aware of both federal and state waste regulations while engage in both provate and public building projects.

The violations impacted approximately 220 acres along the Sheyenne River due to improper stormwater population plans and control mechanisms. It was estimated that over 1000 tons of sediment and debris from the construction site was improperly discharged into the river resulting in pollution and decreasing drinking water storage levels. .

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Failure to comply with proper waste disposal regulations will not only negatively impact the environment but can also land you in legal trouble. It’s always your responsibility to follow the law!

 

Prevent Marine Debris

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Shorelines and coastal waters are witnessing a growing problem of marine debris. Marine debris is any man-made item that enters the ocean or coastline from the land or water. The coastlines are popular places to live, work, vacation, and engage in recreational activities and as a result the level of debris is increasing resulting in a contamination of the environment.

Marine debris is typically the result of poor waste management from human activities – both municipal and industrial. The debris very often includes a high percentage of recyclable items such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, and aluminum cans. By making waste collection and recycling more convenient along coastal areas, the likelihood of these items ending up in the water is greatly reduced.

Mismanagement of waste and recycling collection will also contribute to marine debris as overflowing containers scatter their belongings along the ground. Municipalities play an important role by ensuring that trash and recycling receptacles are covered, secured, and frequently emptied.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Whether your working or vacationing along the coastline, take a moment and make sure you’re properly disposing of your waste and recyclables. Keeping the marine environment clean makes it enjoyable and profitable for all!

Waste Reduction at the Office

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Regardless of your business sector, every business’ goal is to make money and turn a profit.  Careful consideration is to paid to salaries, benefits, and the price of good and services so any degree of “waste” negatively impacts the bottom line. Eliminating or reducing waste makes your business run more effectively and results in savings. When the business office environment wants to reduce waste, the first thing that comes to mind is to recycle. While recycling is certainly a great idea, and helps to divert materials from the landfill, waste reduction needs to take place first. By reducing the amount of waste generated you’ll immediately see cost savings in terms of fewer materials that need to be purchased.

Paper and toner cartridges are two of the most frequently used items in any office environment. Both are relatively easy to recycle and with a few changes in office policy, can also be easy to reduce reliance on. Here are a few suggestions for where to start:

1. All printers and photocopies should print duplex )both sides) by default. This immediately reduces your paper usage by half.

2. When possible, create computer files instead of paper files. Establish computer based calendar and messaging systems to reduce the need for notepads and sticky-notes.

3. Electronic signatures are legally binding and used regularly. Instead of printing, signing, and mailing or faxing documents, use an electronic signature and email.

4. Look for time and resource saving tips. Computer magazines offer reviews of new and established software, so of which may be free, to help reduce your reliance on paper and plastic while maintaining your effectiveness at work.

5. Stop junk mail that arrives at your office or home by asking the company to remove your address and delisting your business address from the Dun & Bradstreet and InfoUSA databases.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Every office will generate some waste that needs to be recycled or disposed of. However, cutting back the excess will save both money and the environment – so think about how you can trim down!

Airports and Waste Recycling

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If you’re in the business of managing airport facilities, starting an on-site recycling program can be a great way to save money on your waste disposal costs and positively impact the environment. Every day, airports are filled with employees and travelers consuming food and drinks purchased at airport facilities. Much of this waste can be recycled with proper planning and management.

When establishing a waste recycling program at your airport, there are a few key points to consider:

1. Decide upon your collection method – will your facility separate recyclables or will all materials be delivered to a recovery facility for sorting? Cost, staffing and airport size will be determining factors.

2. Get buy-in from employees and establish “green” representatives from different work areas. This participation is essential to ensuring that the program is promoted and adhered to.

3. Use resources available from the EPA and your local environmental agency to target specific areas where your facility can recycle, reduce, or reuse. Questionnaires are available to help you determine a baseline for your facility, plot goals, and evaluate results.

4. Talk with your current waste disposal company to determine what kind of recycling services they offer and the cost. Determine what kinds of recyclable materials will be collected.

5. If recycling is new to your facility, think about launching a small scale recycling project is one area first. This will allow you to put a system in place and address logistics before expanding to an entire airport.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: As more people spend more time in airports, recycling programs are a great way to show travelers you can about the environment while reducing your waste disposal costs.

Waste Recycling at Shopping Centers

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Americans, on average, visit a shopping mall or shopping center nearly three times a month thus making these shopping and socializing destinations an ideal place to practice and encourage effective waste recycling. For businesses responsible for the management and maintenance of these mixed use developments, establishing the habit to promote recycling by retailers, restaurants, and the public can result in saving opportunities. Particular types of waste to focus on for any shopping establishment include:

  • Cardboard boxes and packaging
  • Wooden shipping and shortage pallets
  • Plastic, glass, and metal containers
  • Paper of all kinds (newspapers, office…)
  • Restaurant food waste
  • Organic waste from landscaping

The Environmental Protection Agency has specialized materials and resources for managers of commercial buildings to learn more about creating and maintaining effective recycling and waste reduction programs. A key reason for shopping centers and malls to adopt recycling programs is that it saves money by decreasing disposal costs and can possibly create revenue by selling recycled materials. Visit the EPA’s website to read success stories of retailers and commercial centers who implemented recycling programs to learn about best practice strategies.

Waste Care Wants You to Remember: Every piece of waste that is not recycled must be disposed of in a landfill. Implementing full-scale recycling programs can save you and your commercial tenants money while helping to preserve the environment.

Recycling of Old Business Computers

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Chances are your office has a few old computer monitors that have been collecting dust in a storage closet. You may even have an old television set that was retired as well. When the time comes to clean out your storage space make sure you properly dispose of those pieces – both computer monitors and televisions contain lead which can classify them as hazardous waste. Other toxic substances found in these pieces of equipment include arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Simply putting these unwanted pieces of equipment in your dumpster will contribute to contamination of the environment and in some states land you will a fine or penalty.

In order to safely dispose of unwanted monitors or televisions first contact your local transfer station or local government to see if they have designated “drop-off” days for electronics, and if so, what types of equipment they will be accepting.  If your community isn’t offering such a service, you can also connect with many of the large electronics chain stores such as Best Buy, Office Depot, and others to see if they offer drop-off recycling programs.  For television sets, Thinkgreen.com provides a list of locations that accept old or unwanted sets.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Giving the office a thorough cleaning is something you should undertake regularly. Make sure that unwanted materials are classified and removed properly – separate what can be recycled from what is waste, and be sure to create a put aside all waste material that is potential hazardous!

Stay Ozone Safe in Hot Weather

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In most parts of the country, summer brings hot temperatures and heat-waves. However, in certain areas, high temperatures combined with ground-level ozone can create unhealthy and dangerous conditions for humans and animals.

Whether you’re working outside, going for a lunch-time walk, or sending the kids out to play, it’s important to know that high ozone levels can result in breathing problems and aggravate lung conditions such as asthma. When temperatures are high and an ozone alert is issued, everyone should should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Automobiles, including machinery and buses, create the majority of the ozone which pollutes the air. Anything that utilizes fossil fuels contributes to the ozone problem. When ozone level reach dangerous states the Environmental Protection Agency urges the public to do the following:

– Minimize the use of automobiles by using public transportation, car-pooling, or staying indoors;
– Avoid using gasoline engines, such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and the like.

If you’d like to know how your area of the country performs in ozone readings, comprehensive data can be found on the EPA’s website.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Exposure to high ozone levels can be dangerous to  your family, employees, and pets. Conserve energy and protect your health by honoring alerts when they are issued!

Pesticides: Safe Disposal Practices

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Whether you’re taking care of your home lawn or the landscaping for a commercial property, chances are there will be time when using pesticides is necessary. Once the pest problem is eradicated though, some thought and care needs to go into how to safely dispose of these toxic chemicals.  The following are a few tips from the EPA:

1) Not overbuying the amount of pesticide will help in ensuring that you only have and use the full amount needed to eliminate the pest problem. However, if you do have some of the substance left over, check with neighbors – they may be having a similar problem and could use it!

2) If you have leftover chemicals that cannot be put to use, contact your local transfer station, environmental agency, or community health office to see if any special hazardous waste collection dates are scheduled for your area. Local government can also provide you with the regulations for proper pesticide disposal.

3) Reading up on pesticide regulations on the EPA’s website is always helpful but don’t forget that local and state regulations may be more stringent that the federal ones. Be sure to follow the most restrictive regulation so you don’t incur any fines or citations.

4) If you have used all of the chemical but still have the container, read the labeling carefully for any instructions on how to dispose of it properly. If there aren’t any disposal directions consider it safe to consider it waste or recycling material.

5) Never pour leftover chemicals into a sink, toilet, or street drain. Most sewer systems are not equipped to sufficiently remove hazardous chemicals from pesticides from the waste stream and can go on to contaminate waterways.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Pesticides are designed to eliminate a pest problem. Those same chemicals can create a human health and environmental problem if not used and disposed of properly!

Pesticides: Safe Storage Techniques

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If you’re responsible for maintenance and care of landscaping and grounds, chances are you’ll be utilizing a pesticide when a pest problem occurs. Pesticides are toxic and harmful to both humans and the environment, so be sure to exercise caution and follow safe storage techniques. Here are a few recommended safe practices from the Environmental Protection Agency:

1. Buy only the amount needed for the current problem. Storing pesticides over a long period of time reduces their effectiveness and if in containers not sealed properly, can leak and corrode.

2. Follow the directions on the label! A little reading can save a life. Ideally, pesticides should be kept locked in a separate area so children, pets, and unauthorized employees cannot gain access. Never store these hazardous chemicals near medical supplies, animal feed, or food/water supplies where they can easily be mistaken for another substance.

3. The label will indicate if the pesticide is flammable. If this is the case, ensure that the chemical are kept a safe distance from automobiles, heating sources, or power tools.

4. Keep pesticides in their original containers as they are designed by the manufacturer to prevent corrosion and contamination.

5. Never store pesticides in areas where flooding may occur. The chemicals can seep into the groundwater and contaminate the environmental system.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: For those times when pesticide use is necessary, be sure you’re keeping your employees, customers, or family safe by following safe storage practices. Cleaning up a “mess” costs time and money!

Take Care With Ozone-depleting Refrigerants

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If you’re in the business of food processing or distribution or use refrigerants as part of your work, take care that they are properly maintained and are within federal compliance guidelines. Recently, two Seattle area seafood processing plants settled a court case filed against them for violations of federal clean air regulations for use of ozone-depleting refrigerants.

In addition to terminating their use of the non-compliant refrigerants, the two companies must enact leak detection and repair policies aboard their fishing vessels and pay penalties in restitution for their violations of the Clean Air Act. For three years, American Seafoods Company and Pacific Longline Company illegally imported the refrigerant R-22 for use on fishing vessels and used quantities of the materials that are beyond the United States limit. They were also cited for failing to repair refrigeration leaks in a reasonable about of time, failure to maintain records of repairs, and use of uncertified refrigeration employees. A $700,000 penalty has been imposed and restitution payments between $9-15 million dollars will be used to offset environmental damage and convert the non-compliant vessels.

The Environmental Protection Agency noted that the use of select refrigerants is not a  compliance problem but rather how the cooling materials are maintained, stored, and used so that releases into the ozone are kept to a minimum.

Ozone depletion allows increased levels of ultraviolet radiation to come in contact with the Earth and is associated with skin cancer, immune system damage, and cataracts in humans and animals and can also negatively impact crops, vegetation, and ocean life.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If your business uses refrigeration make sure your methods and systems are compliant with your local and federal regulations. Failure to address this will not only damage the environment but can also land you in hot water!