From Batteries to Lamps: Hazardous Materials You Use Every

It’s important to understand which materials are hazardous because otherwise, you could dispose of them wrongly without even knowing, which could lead to human suffering, environmental impacts, and fines. Most of the following examples are of ‘universal hazardous waste’ which refers to waste derived from items and substances that most of us use on a day to day level, hence the term ‘universal’.

If you have any of these materials and need them removed professionally then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Walsh Brothers Industrial Services!

Batteries

A really common type of hazardous waste is batteries because they usually contain substances like lead, sulphuric acid, nickel and mercury. These are highly flammable substances and can cause explosions in emergency situations - especially lithium batteries that are used to create the rechargeable batteries we have in most of our devices.

Pesticides

Pesticides are a very dangerous substance. If they’re not handled properly they can end up affecting your health by slowly poisoning the body. For example, pesticides have been linked to cancer, ADHD, Alzheimer’s disease, birth defects and issues with the central nervous system, reproductive system and endocrine system. This is a lot to risk so it’s best to call in hazardous waste specialists like us here at Walsh Brothers Industrial Services if you have any pesticides to get rid of.

Asbestos

Anything that contains over 0.1% asbestos is immediately considered hazardous waste. This is despite the substance having been used as early as 4,000 B.C. and as a popular form of insulation for houses built before 1980. Long term exposure to asbestos will cause serious lung conditions like asbestosis due to the incredibly fine fibres contained in the substance.

Oils

What many don’t realise is that many oils are classed as hazardous substances because they often contain solvents. Plus, they usually contain halogens and the Environmental Protection Agency has ruled that any oil containing over 1,000 parts per million halogens is to be labelled and treated as being a hazardous material.



Lamps and Bulbs

Until recently, you could throw away your lamps and fluorescent bulbs like you would any other furniture. However, this has recently changed and lamps and bulbs are now classed as hazardous substances. Bulbs often contain harmful gasses that will be released if they smash which they likely will if they’re being thrown away in a skip or regular bin.

If you have any of these materials that need to get rid of, then look no further than us here at Walsh Brothers Industrial Services! Our expert team is highly trained and well experienced and we use the latest technology and methods to remove hazardous waste, no matter how big or small the project is. Just get in touch with us for a free quote by calling 01259 214 507 today!