https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

Protecting the environment and consumers through household hazardous waste collection

Protecting the environment and consumers through household hazardous waste collection

Richard Johnsen is the special services manager for Veolia’s New Jersey Branch and project manager of the company’s SAFE Disposal event services shares advice on how to keep household hazardous wastes out of municipal waste streams.
  • Written by contributor
  • 5th November 2014

By Richard Johnsen

Up until the 1970s, household hazardous wastes (HHW), such as oil-based paints and pesticides, were routinely thrown in with the household trash, down the kitchen drain or into storm sewers. These materials have historically been released to the environment through landfill or improper disposal.  

HHW includes excess consumer products in the home that have chemical constituents, which are toxic, flammable, poisonous, corrosive, or otherwise hazardous. These products, such as cleaners, paints, batteries, oils, antifreeze and pesticides, contain potentially hazardous ingredients that require expert capabilities during handling and disposal. Improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a health or safety threat to humans.

According to the EPA, proper HHW disposal programs provide several benefits:

  • Reduction and recycling of HHW conserves resources and energy that would be expended in the production of more products.
  • Reuse of hazardous household products can save money and reduce the need for generating hazardous substances.
  • Proper disposal prevents pollution that could endanger human health and the environment.

Today, municipalities across the country are proactively working to get HHW out of the municipal waste stream. They are using a variety of methods, from maintaining permanent collection sites to holding annual collection events for residents to public education and awareness programs.

The New York City Department of Sanitation has been conducting annual collection events for NYC residents in each of the five boroughs since 2012. These SAFE Disposal events (Solvents, Automotive, Flammables and Electronics) have successfully collected over 646 tons of HHW in the past three years.

For David Hirschler, director, Waste Prevention at the New York City Department of Sanitation, the SAFE Disposal events play an important role in keeping hazardous materials out of landfills and other waste streams. “These events make it convenient for residents to get rid of potentially dangerous materials left under a sink or in a garage. They also go a long way in protecting sanitation workers who may encounter hazardous materials and are unprepared to handle them.”

Not only are these events are a great way to prevent hazardous materials from entering the waste stream, but they also provide an opportunity to get very dangerous items out of peoples’ homes. It’s certainly safer for the professionals to handle these materials than for residents to let them collect in their homes.

Veolia provides environmental specialists, equipment, material and support to properly manage the HHW collected during the SAFE Disposal events. The company collects, packages and categorizes the waste by hazard class and DOT regulations prior to loading it onto trucks bound for one of its nearby Part B transportation, storage and disposal facilities. Once there, personnel re-manifest the material for transport to a number of different processing facilities based upon constituents and disposal technology.

A primary goal of the New York City Department of Sanitation is to recycle, reuse or reclaim the waste materials. In 2013, the event resulted in more than 350,000 pounds of HHW collected, which went straight to recycling and treatment facilities where these wastes were turned into reusable byproducts.

For instance, latex paint is sorted and sent it to a waste-to-energy facility. The material is put into a large mixing pit with municipal trash and blended into a fuel for their incinerator, which ultimately produces energy.  Oil based paints (stains, varnishes and lacquers) and gasoline and oils are sent to Veolia’s fuels blending facility in Middlesex, N.J. There, the liquids are blended into a specification fuel and ultimately sent to a cement kiln where it’s used as a fuel to operate the cement kiln. 

Electronics collection is also part of the SAFE events. Items such as rechargeable batteries, alkaline batteries, TV sets, computers and terminals all have components that are considered hazardous, such as mercury and heavy metals. Today, technology is available to reclaim this material instead of sending it to a landfill. For example, at the West Bridgewater facility in Massachusetts, processing equipment allows for more than 99 percent (by weight) of a fluorescent lamp to be recycled. Not only can a fluorescent lamp be separated into its core components of glass, aluminum and mercury-bearing phosphor power, but the mercury can be reclaimed as well, helping to keep it out of the environment.

Hirschler says working with the right disposal company is key to a successful event. “We need service providers that have the ability to manage the materials and are also able to handle the crowd.  We’re different from other cities because we get lots of walkers versus vehicles.” He also notes that it’s important for the disposal company to have the proper resources – staff, logistical know-how, transportation services and facilities – to handle the events along with the ability to manage the wastes responsibly.

Richard Johnsen is the special services manager for Veolia’s New Jersey Branch and project manager of the company’s SAFE Disposal event services.

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

Tags: Public Works & Utilities Commentaries Commentary

Related


  • EPA recognizes two tribal partners in New Mexico for efforts to reduce waste and recycle
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Pueblo of Jemez and Picuris for its outstanding efforts in recycling, food recovery and resilience. EPA is celebrating their green endeavors during America Recycles Week. EPA is focusing on advancing the future of recycling from November 16 – 17, 2020. “The work by our tribal partners to […]
  • The case for ozone in potable reuse and emerging contaminant treatment
    As communities take steps to provide reliable long-term water supplies through potable reuse and ensure that our waters are safe by mitigating threats to water quality, ozone will be one part of a suite of building blocks for creating the most effective treatment process
  • City of Tega Cay, S.C., wants residents to go through neighbors' trash
    The city of Tega Cay in South Carolina has asked residents to remain vigilant in spotting recycling contamination. Officials have stated that they are considering canceling the city’s recycling program because of “truckloads” of rejected residential recycling materials. In fact, Tega Cay councilpersons are asking for volunteers to inspect what goes into residents’ recycle bins […]
  • Parking revenues: The unexpected casualty of COVID-19
    Cities and counties will have to balance the opportunity to earn parking related revenue again, and possibly even more of it, with the reality that many drivers are also facing financial stress

Related Content

  • Expediting the reduction of road salt use in America
  • Vermont city uses sewer surveillance to halt spread of COVID-19
  • Industry and government collaboration key to addressing recycling challenges
  • The uncertain future of community composting in New York City

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

The latest episode The Young Leaders Podcast focuses on Cyril Jefferson. Cyril is the youngest African American to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Hillsboro, Oregon is pioneering a new #renewableenergy generation technology through a partnership with… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

The impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on #telework was swift and profound. Now, the big question is whether – and to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Get ready for the can't-miss webinar on how to kickstart your efficiency improvement plan with Luke Anderson of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Among all states headed into the 2020 general election, which ones have voting populations that are the most demogr… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in our readership survey to help us shape future content so that we c… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

See how cities different approaches to distribute masks in their communities >> spr.ly/6010GAPLa

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

While #facialrecognition is a powerful tool that can improve law enforcement efficiency, that doesn’t necessarily t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X