As a hazardous waste generator, it is your organization’s responsibility to ensure waste is properly disposed of. Any hazardous waste not handled according to regulations can result in detrimental consequences to your business. This makes choosing the appropriate waste disposal company crucial to help you navigate the waste disposal process. Below, we’ve put together a simple guide about what hazardous waste generators need to know.
Prioritize Credibility
Finding a local hazardous waste professional should include a research process similar to hiring any other third party service. In addition to confirming the basics, such as state and federal licenses, there are other important questions to consider asking:
- What services and capabilities do you offer?
- How will hazardous materials you handle be managed?
- Do you have a solid history of regulatory compliance?
- Can you provide a statement of qualifications (SOQ)?
- Are your employees properly trained and certified?
- What are your insurance policy requirements in case of an accident?
- Can you manage unknown chemicals? If so, what is your procedure?
- Are you certified for the transportation of identified hazardous waste materials?
- Do you hire subcontractors? If so, can you provide their information and what capacities they are utilized for?
Don’t Overlook Experience
Consider working with a hazardous waste management company that has a breadth of experience, not just expertise in one sector of hazardous waste disposal – especially if you’re a business that produces various waste streams.
When handling varying types of hazardous waste, services could include:
- Health and safety audits
- Identifying waste streams
- Profiling and analytical testing of waste streams
- Developing a custom on-site plan for managing waste (training employees, emergency preparedness, etc)
- Transportation to and from disposal sites
- Dangerous goods and hazardous materials shipping
- Manifest and other legal paperwork
Comprehensive waste management companies can provide personalized services for everything from non-hazardous chemicals to radioactive waste, which will help you to effectively manage all your waste streams.
Consider an Ongoing Consultative Relationship
Keeping up with hazardous waste disposal is a full-time job. Realistically, many hazardous waste generators simply do not have the experience or the time to continuously ensure regulation compliance. This is where your relationship with a professional hazardous waste management company comes into play.
An ongoing personalized, comprehensive hazardous waste plan can help you maintain regulatory compliance, with areas of focus including:
- Environmental health and safety audits
- Hazardous waste evaluation procedures
- Waste storage evaluation & planning
- Emergency preparedness
- Employee training procedures
Solutions to hazardous waste violations often require only minor changes to procedures, so staying on top of hazardous waste management with regulatory inspections by a professional company can offer big cost savings down the road.
As your organization grows and your disposal needs change, it’s important to look for a company that can be flexible, especially in a pinch. For example, an unusually large customer order that creates greater amounts of hazardous waste than anticipated could end up violating local or federal laws if not managed appropriately. The hazardous waste management company you want to work with is the one that will be there in tough or unprecedented situations.
Contact the Hazardous Waste Disposal Experts
As a business, your valuable time is better spent focused on tasks that move your company forward. By working with an experienced hazardous waste company, you can worry less about managing your waste and focus on what’s important.
Founded in 2003, MLI Environmental is a trusted leader in hazardous waste services in New England, as well as both international and domestic certified dangerous goods shipping. To learn more about our waste management services for hazardous waste generators, please contact us or request a quote online.