Commercial Hazardous Waste
Commercial Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it potentially dangerous or harmful to human health or the environment. It can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges. They can be by-products of manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides.
Commercial generated hazardous waste, such as discarded florescent lights, unused or leftover pesticides and fertilizers pose a significant threat to the environment. Therefore, they CANNOT be placed in your dumpster. Local, state, and federal regulations require that all hazardous waste be properly disposed of. Consult your city or town for up-to-date collection sites and dates in your area.
Per CT the Department Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP): “Small businesses are frequently unaware of the responsibilities for managing their hazardous wastes. Many dispose of paints, fluorescent lights, pesticides and other harmful chemicals in the garbage or by pouring them down the drain. By law, these businesses must make a determination if their wastes are hazardous and are prohibited from disposing of any hazardous wastes in the regular garbage. Contracting with a licensed hazardous waste disposal facility can be expensive for a small business. Recent changes in the state’s solid waste regulations allow many small businesses, known as conditionally exempt small quantity generators, (CESQGs) to bring their hazardous waste to household hazardous waste (HHW) collections. HHW collections typically take place on Saturdays in the Spring and Fall. These programs take in hazardous wastes such as oil-based paints, pesticides, fertilizers, thinners, acids, mercury, gasoline and other household chemicals. CESQGs frequently generate similar hazardous wastes.”
For more information about small business hazardous Waste disposal visit The Department Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) website at: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2718&q=325444&deepNav_GID=1646
Additional Resources
For national information, go to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/land-waste-and-cleanup-topics
For information on The Metropolitan District’s (MDC) Household Hazardous Waste Collection http://themdc.org/what-we-do/environment-health-safety/household-hazardous-waste-collection
For a list of Commercial Hazardous Waste and Non-Hazardous Waste Facilities visit the DEEP website at: http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2718&q=325490&depNav_GID=1646
