Understanding Hazardous and Toxic Waste

• Hazardous or toxic waste includes potentially dangerous byproducts from industries like engineering, agriculture, water treatment, construction, garages, labs, and hospitals.
• Toxic and hazardous waste can harm organisms through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption.
• Cities and municipalities often schedule specific collection days for household hazardous waste.
• Knowledge of the harmful effects of these wastes is necessary to allow preventive measures.

Toxic Waste

• Chemical waste can cause death or injury to living organisms.
• Waste containing pathogens such as used syringes can be toxic.

Sources of Toxic Waste

• Toxic waste comes from places like industries, chemical laboratories, and biological processes.
• Toxins are found in waste from households, offices, and commercial activities.
• Electronic device batteries, pesticides, cell phones and computers can become toxic waste.

Hazardous Waste

• Hazardous Waste includes corrosive, flammable, or chemically unstable materials, or ones with excessive toxins.
• Landfills are unsuitable for these materials, due to the risk of immediate or long-term harm to health.

Types of Toxic Waste

• Toxic waste is categorized into chemical, radioactive, and medical wastes.

Chemical Waste

• Corrosive, flammable, and reactive chemicals that produce explosive or toxic by-products are considered chemical wastes.
• Chemical wastes can be acutely poisonous, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and bioaccumulative (like heavy metals).

Radioactive Waste

• Elements and compounds that produce ionizing radiation, and any material interacting with them are radioactive wastes.
• Examples include rods and water used in nuclear power plants to control nuclear reactions.

Medical Waste

• Tissues and fluids with infectious organisms, along with containers, are medical wastes.

Sources, Causes, and Effects

• UNEP identifies 11 key toxic/hazardous substances.

Toxic/hazardous substances

• Arsenic: Used in electrical circuits, pesticides, and wood preservatives, it's also carcinogenic.
• Asbestos: Used for insulation and roofing/brake materials; inhaling its fibers can cause lung cancer and asbestosis.
• Cadmium: Found in batteries and plastics; can be inhaled or ingested, leading to lung damage, digestive issues, and kidney disease.
• Chromium: Used in furnaces, steel making, chrome plating, dyes, wood preserving, and leather tanning; it can cause cancer, bronchitis, and lung damage.
• Clinical wastes: Syringes and medication bottles can spread pathogens and harmful microorganisms.
• Cyanide: A poison in pesticides and rodenticides, leading to paralysis, convulsions, and respiratory distress in large doses.
• Lead: Found in batteries, paints, and ammunition; harmful to the nervous, reproductive, and kidney systems if ingested or inhaled.
• Mercury: Used in dental fillings, batteries, and chlorine gas production; exposure may cause birth defects, kidney, and brain damage.
• PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls): Used in manufacturing, the utility industry, paints, and sealants; exposure can harm the nervous, reproductive, and immune systems, along with the liver.
• POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants): In chemicals and pesticides, may lead to nervous and reproductive system issues and bio-accumulate in the food chain.
• Strong acids and alkalis: Used in manufacturing and industry, they can destroy tissues and cause internal damage.
• Household products are often overlooked as toxic when improperly disposed of such as old batteries, pesticides, paint, and car oil.
• Toxic waste can be reactive, ignitable, and corrosive.

Effects of Toxic/Hazardous Waste

• Toxic waste harms people, animals, and plants on land, in rivers, and in the air.
• Toxins like mercury and lead persist in the environment for years.
• Living organisms absorb toxins by consuming contaminated fish, animals, and plants.
• Every person is a contributor to hazardous waste generation.

Reduction Methods

• Simple changes in product usage can reduce hazardous waste, benefiting the environment.

Reducing Toxic Waste

• Commercial cleaners and laundry detergents are major contributors to hazardous waste.
• Using household ingredients like vinegar, soap, lemon juice, cornstarch, borax, and baking soda is a safer alternative.
• These natural ingredients can also be used for dishwashing, laundry, and bathroom cleaning.
• Natural compost, made from vegetable peels, coffee grounds, grass, and plant clippings, can be used as fertilizer.
• Homemade compost is more effective than commercial products and harmless to the environment.
• Compost is an excellent substitute for toxic weed killers, also helping avoid the need for pesticides and fertilizers which pose risk as hazardous waste.
• Natural repellents made from alternatives like garlic, onion, and soap can control pests on plants.
• Water-based paints should be used instead of oil-based paints which contain solvents that contribute to hazardous waste.
• Alternatives to toxic drain cleaners like a sewer snake or plunger, can be used unclog drains.
• Straining and pouring boiling water down the drain 3-4 times a month helps in preventing clogs.
• Furniture can be polished with lemon oil or olive oil combined with vinegar or lemon juice.
• Metals can be polished with baking soda, vinegar, or salt as opposed to using commercial polishes and varnishes.
• Follow hazardous waste disposal regulations in your locality.
• Drop off unused cleaners, fluorescent bulbs, batteries, pesticides, herbicides, sealants, polish, paint thinner, solvents, varnish, and oil-based paints at designated disposal units.
• Natural alternatives such as using citronella oil for insect repellent sprays and lotions.
• Removing sources that attract insects, such as standing water, can also reduce the need for repellents.