If your business involves hazardous waste, it’s important to be aware of both the legal and regulatory issues as well as the environmental ones for toxic and harmful materials. The Environmental Protection Agency provides resources and best practices to assist businesses of all sizes with recycling and disposing of the hazardous wastes that are a part of their materials stream. Recycling practices for materials such as electronics, chemicals, and tires, are changing rapidly as new and innovative uses for these products are developed – so staying current in the latest news is to your benefit.

When you’re ready to start the process of recycling your hazardous waste, consider the following:

• First, have a comprehensive understanding of how the state and federal government regulate the hazardous waste you have.
• Find a recycler who is responsible and knowledgeable. Make sure they are qualified and permitted to handle hazardous waste, offer full disclosure for any prior contamination problems as well as compliance audits, and employ sound practices in both their financial management and waste screening.
• Once you’ve found a recycler that meets your needs, periodically confirm that legitimate recycling is taking place.
• Participate in the EPA’s WasteWise program which is designed to help businesses reduce their solid waste and cut disposal costs.
• Monitor your business’s recycling success! Keeping track of your recycling efforts helps to measure your cost savings and is good public relations in your community.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: When you adapt your practices to be more environmentally friendly and less wasteful, it shows your investors, employees, and clients that you will not put them in danger of violating regulations, incurring heavy fines, or receiving adverse publicity.