Q: As a building manager at a commercial office building, what do I need to know about disposing hazardous waste?
A: There are many materials designated as hazardous waste by the EPA, but most are not common to commercial office buildings. You probably mainly deal
with items classified as Universal Wastes such as fluorescent bulbs,
pesticides, batteries and mercury-containing devices.
The toxins contained in these items are unsafe when landfilled or mishandled. EPA estimates that about 14% of the mercury, a known neurotoxin, in fluorescent lightbulbs is released into air or water when it is sent to a landfill.
The solution is to set up a Universal Waste Recycling program. The EPA estimates that out of 700 million mercury light bulbs manufactured annually, only 23% is recycled. Licensed service providers in your area can provide collection boxes for these items, safe on-site storage, removals on an as-needed basis, and certificates of recycling on all materials removed from your property.
Let Great Forest help you set up and maintain your hazardous waste recycling program. We will also educate your tenants and staff about how to properly handle these materials.