As 2022 gets closer, hazardous waste generators, including disposal facilities, storage, and treatment facilities, need to begin their end-of-year efforts in getting everything in order before the new year. Some of the questions you should answer to ensure all events have been addressed, and all your files are in order, include:
– Have you had any spills in your facility that need a response?
– Are your records in order for HAZMAT reporting?
– Once you’ve calculated your generated waste, will your generator status have to be altered?
As a generator of hazardous waste, you have a lot of concerns to deal with, so this list of 5 things to cross off your list before 2022 can help. Start next year’s first quarter stress and worry-free with a clear conscience by completing all your year-end reporting on time.
1. Plan Ahead
Now is the time to start planning if your facility is going to require a pickup before 12/31/2021. Following the appropriate procedures for disposing of dangerous waste materials has many benefits. These benefits include:
– Increased recycling and recovery of materials
– Reducing the amount of waste generated
– Improved protection of the environment and human health
– Conservation of natural resources and energy
To make sure you are doing your part to promote these benefits, check with the experts at Environmental Marketing Services. We welcome the opportunity to be of service to your organization. We understand our clients’ needs and objectives to develop innovative and cost-effective waste disposal procedures.
To dispose of your hazardous wastes before the end of 2021, your facility should:
Identify– Identify the type of waste your facility has generated and complete a profile of it to identify the waste. Environmental Marketing Services will help you determine how to safely handle it through disposal procedures.
Quantify– Determine how much waste you have. This information is significant as it identifies your status which is linked to the amount of waste your facility has produced
Notify– If your generator status is classified as SQGs or LQSs, you will be required to obtain an identification number from the Federal Environmental office and report your waste activities. Check with Environmental Marketing Services if you will be required to report to your state as well
Transport– Transportation of your waste will need to be planned with Environmental Marketing Services. This piece is important to plan early to ensure scheduling can be in place before the year ends. The materials will have to be in compliant DOT containers and properly labeled
Dispose– Check with Environmental Marketing Services to determine how your waste materials will need to be disposed of. Different wastes have different requirements and all have to follow EPA regulations
As you can see by the above list there are many factors to take into consideration for disposing of hazardous waste. Planning early will give you time to complete all your procedures and ensure Environmental Marketing Services is able to get your facility on the schedule in time to complete disposal before 2022.
2. Review
Now is the time to review all your storage areas in all departments to ensure materials have not gone past their expiration dates. Check for any dangerous materials that are no longer usable. You should also think about the non-standard waste generated and if it needs disposal. Some examples of non-standard waste include:
– Lactic acid
– Bromides
– Sugars
– Carbonates
While non-standard wastes do not sound threatening, they can still cause significant environmental damages. For this reason, local and state governments often regulate these wastes to be properly disposed of to meet all appropriate regulations.
3. Inventory
To prepare for the end-of-the-year, your facility will need an inventory of the hazardous waste materials being disposed of. Environmental Marketing Services can help you set up or update your waste profiles.
4. Verify or Update Facility Generator Status
The RCRA waste management regulations require every generator of hazardous waste to determine their generator status monthly. To determine your status, your facility must count all hazardous waste at the ‘point of the generation’, unless it can be specifically excluded.
The RCRA generator status is determined by the amount of dangerous waste generated in a month. LQGs (large quantity generators) have the strictest waste management requirements (1,000 kg or more) and SQGs have the least (>100 kg but <1,000 kg.) There are also VSQGs that report 100 kg or less, and 1 kg or less acute dangerous waste. The volume of dangerous waste your facility generates in a given month can differ for a multitude of reasons. Change in operations or an extra productive month for example can result in a change of your status. Before December ends, verify or update your facility's generator status. 5. Contact Environmental Marketing Services
Events can happen to interfere with scheduling, so it is important to plan your disposal now with Environmental Marketing Services. Bad weather at this time of year is unpredictable and there are Holiday hours to schedule around. It is good to be prepared as these events can impact your year-end disposal requirements.
