Annually, the world produces between 300 to 500 million metric tons of hazardous waste – equating to nearly 13 tons every second1. Hazardous waste includes materials that are toxic, corrosive, flammable or reactive that require specialised handling and disposal procedures.
Waste management is a critical component of all businesses managing hazardous materials, which is becoming more and more common. Across the UK, the hazardous waste collection and treatment sector is growing, and by the end of 2025 the market size is projected to reach £1.4 billion2.
Traditional methods of managing hazardous waste such as landfilling, incineration, or deep-well injection are often unsustainable, leading to environmental pollution, long-term health issues and contributing to climate change.
Daniel Redfern, Director at Envirovue, an innovative waste management specialist, shares advice on how to take a sustainable approach to managing hazardous waste.
Reduce waste at the source
The most sustainable approach to managing hazardous waste is to prevent it from being created in the first place – minimising the amount of potentially harmful materials generated and decreasing the need for disposal, treatment and contamination is integral.
Daniel explains: “We’d recommend introducing a tracking data system to manage all waste types. By using software to collate all types of hazardous waste, we’re able to identify inefficiencies, peaks within the waste process and discover the cause of surplus material.
“Data can also offer insights to help organisations transition towards more sustainable, circular economy waste practices, a fantastic strategy across more than the waste lifecycle, data-driven decisions will unlock the unmatched ability for managers to make informed decisions.”
Effectively managing multiple waste streams
It is important to thoroughly understand the type and quantity of hazardous waste generated. A thorough waste audit helps identify areas where waste can be reduced, reused, or handled more effectively.
Robust segregation of hazardous waste is essential to avoid cross-contamination and enable effective recycling or treatment. By understanding different types of hazardous waste and separating the different types, such as chemicals or batteries, each stream can be handled and disposed of according to its specific requirements.
Dan explains: “Education is key here, all employees must understand the importance of waste separation and how to do it correctly. It is crucial to provide staff with adequate training on waste identification, segregation, and proper handling procedures.
“This also ensures that your all employees within your business are complying with both
local and national regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal, reducing the risk of penalties and environmental liabilities.”
Invest in technology
Technology can hold the key for businesses to reduce both the environmental impact driven by waste management and the overall costs.
Dan explains: “There’s lots of technology available to support multiple processes, however using AI to automate waste processes is a fantastic way to track sustainability and profitability before committing to the movement of hazardous waste.
“For example, our cloud-based portal allows clients to compile all information and potential management streams to create a centralised system that ensures that hazardous waste is handled correctly and disposed of according to all regulations, providing peace of mind and facilitating compliance.”
To find out more about Envirovue and its services, please visit: www.envirovue.io
