What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste includes a range of materials which in some way present a threat to both humans and the environment. When disposing of this waste, it’s crucial that you trust a professional to handle the material and not to try to dispose of it yourself. Regardless of the type of hazardous waste, handling it without training or the correct safety equipment could easily lead to a fatal injury.

Below we list the main types of hazardous waste to help you gain a better understanding of what is classified as hazardous waste materials. 

Waste which presents an explosion hazard, for example, fireworks, for example, can be extremely serious if not handled or disposed of correctly. Explosive waste may also include chemicals or fuel tanks found during demolition.

Oxidising materials can contribute to the combustion of surrounding materials when exposed to heat or a source of ignition. Chemicals, bleach and other oxidising agents, which you’d find in a laboratory or hospital, can contribute to a fire, causing it to grow and spread even quicker which obviously poses a huge threat. 

 Items which can combust when they reach a certain temperature. Flammable waste often refers to flammable liquids – which are most commonly found in commercial or industrial premises – such as fuels, solvents and even oils.

Any non-corrosive materials can cause significant damage and irritation to the skin or eyes if you come into any physical contact with them. Examples of this include solvents, cleaning products, acids, detergents, paints, adhesives.

Overall, toxic waste refers to substances which, when inhaled or ingested, can trigger severe, frequently fatal, damage. There are various subcategories of toxic waste, which include specific target organ toxicity (STOT) acute toxicity, ecotoxic, aspiration toxicity, and many more. Toxic chemicals and substances need to be treated with extreme caution and have to be disposed of with care by licenced hazardous waste carriers.

Here at Walsh Brothers Industrial Services, whether it’s bulk liquids or drummed chemical waste materials, our Industrial Services have extensive experience and dispose of hazardous waste across Scotland. We provide a fully compliant hazardous waste disposal service, with all necessary licensing and documentation in place. To find out more, please get in touch.