
Every conscientious business owner should be familiar with the methods to properly dispose of waste. Not only does this include being familiar with the methods to correctly dispose of potentially hazardous wastes, but also with what materials can be recycled. Map Waste offer a comprehensive service when it comes to waste disposal but can often give valuable advice such as the following.
Depending on the materials and your type of business, it can reduce your costs or potentially provide an additional revenue stream. Rules and regulation vary from city to city, but here we will cover the most common types of waste.
What can be recycled
Commonly recyclable items include cardboard, paper, most plastics and many metal items. However, there are some exceptions such as: pizza boxes, food wrappers, paper or plastic dishes, and cutlery. Most municipalities do not consider them to be recyclable and they must be disposed of with general waste.
Types of Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste typically includes anything that is toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive. The most common sources for these typically include common items such as paint, cleaners, solvents, oils, and pesticides. With the exception of used motor oil, any of these items need to be specially disposed of. Most municipalities have centres that accept these types of waste, while used motor oil can usually be disposed of free of charge at a garage or auto-mechanic. What constitutes as hazardous waste is often an issue when it comes to businesses seeking commercial waste disposal, so professional advice may be required.
Types to look out for
While many hazardous materials tend to be common sense items, many others may not be quite so intuitive. Most modern types of light bulbs must be disposed of with care as they are typically manufactured with mercury or other heavy metals. Any type of medical waste must be disposed of with care and should not be simply thrown away. Batteries of any type should not be thrown away either, as they most often contain lead and an acid, though some are made with other hazardous materials such as lithium. These types of items should be taken to the facility in your city that accepts hazardous waste.
Alternative Solutions
Many common types of waste that are typically thought of as being something that must be disposed of can actually be readily sold. Besides common items such as metal containers, many other items such as batteries, appliances, wire, and electronics can also be sold at a local recycling centre or scrap yard by the pound. Many will even pick up your items. Vendors vary in what they will purchase so check with your local recycling centre.