A Detailed Guide on the Transportation of Hazardous Waste

There is no such thing as waste not, want not. The average American produced 4.9 pounds of waste every day in 2018. 

Some of this waste can go into a landfill. But a lot of it cannot. You must master the transportation of hazardous waste in order to avoid significant environmental problems. 

What are the regulations about who can transport hazardous materials? What exactly is hazardous waste? What are some good transportation practices a hazardous waste generator should follow? 

Answer these questions and you can minimize your company’s impact on the environment. Here is your quick guide. 

Regulated Hazardous Waste Transporters 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulates hazardous waste transporters. It defines a transporter as anyone who works with the off-site transportation of hazardous waste in America.

This includes someone who moves waste from one hazardous waste facility to another facility. The RCRA does not apply to people who move the waste from one building to another within a facility.

Transporters must abide by many stipulations. They must obtain a unique EPA ID number, with each vehicle using the company number. They must provide manifests to the EPA every time they move waste off-site. 

The EPA has special regulations for water and rail transportation. Transporters can use a different document instead of a manifest, though it must contain all details about the transportation. 

The EPA requires all transporters to report spills. They must contact the police and clean up the spill themselves. 

Transfer Facilities

Transfer facilities are facilities where waste can be held for a small period of time. Loading docks, storage units, and parking lots count as transfer facilities. 

A transporter can hold waste in a transfer facility for up to 10 days. Yet they must have a manifest and keep the waste in an official EPA container. But they do not have to follow all safety rules. 

Should the waste remain in the transfer facility for longer than 10 days, the facility becomes an official storage facility. The transporter must then follow all guidelines.

Categories of Hazardous Waste 

A transporter must have a hazardous waste management system that centers around the categories of waste. You must study each category in order to understand how to transport it. 

Corrosivity

Corrosive wastes are liquids that can dissolve solid steel. They may have a very low or very high pH level. 

As you might imagine, many corrosive wastes are acids. Battery acid and sulfuric acid are two examples of corrosive wastes. They should be stored in plastic, and every effort should be taken so their containers do not tip over. 

Ignitability

Ignitable wastes catch on fire or cause explosions. Some wastes may catch on fire at temperatures as low as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Other wastes react to oxygen and start a blaze. 

Examples include gasoline and used solvents. Some wastes may be stored in plastic, but the key is to keep the temperature low. You may need refrigerated vehicles for transportation.

Reactivity

Reactive wastes are volatile. They can catch on fire, explode, or release toxic gases. Each reactive waste is different, and scientists do not test them due to their dangerous nature. 

Examples of reactive substances include lithium batteries. You must be extremely cautious with reactive materials. You should move them slowly without shaking or dropping them. 

Toxicity

Anything that is harmful when swallowed or absorbed is toxic. Toxic materials can also harm the environment, namely water. 

Toxic waste includes mercury and lead. A company must respond to a spill of toxic waste immediately. They should prevent the spill from spreading and then soak the material up.

Transportation of Hazardous Waste Practices

A hazardous waste company should follow several good transportation practices. They should buy vans and trucks that can carry large amounts of toxic waste. Passenger cars should never be used to carry waste, even on-site. 

Vehicles must have signage indicating they are carrying toxic waste. A simple written description like “OIL” may be enough to indicate what’s inside. 

Employees should handle toxic wastes inside an enclosed facility. The container should then go into the vehicle. It is okay to use a forklift or heavy machinery to move containers, but the containers should be secure. 

Drivers should avoid congested or dangerous routes. They should plan out what route they will take and find alternatives should the road be closed. 

The transportation itself should be slow and steady. If a driver suspects a container has tipped over, they should get out and do an inspection. 

Spill Response

Drivers should have training in cleaning up toxic materials. They can do small actions by themselves like picking up fallen containers. 

But if a container leaks or starts a fire, they should call for help. They should first call for police and medical assistance. They should then contact their company and explain the situation. 

A driver should help with evacuation, especially if a reactive substance spilled. Remaining near the scene endangers them and others. They should signal to other people to get out of the area and help the first responders in some way. 

Once the immediate threat is dealt with, a company should contain a response team. They can visit websites like https://www.hcienv.com/ to see what their options are for a clean-up. 

How to Transport Hazardous Waste

The transportation of hazardous waste is essential for all companies. Your company must receive approval from the EPA in order to transport waste. 

It is okay to use transfer facilities, but only for a few days. Keep in mind that every type of hazardous waste is dangerous, and you must store all waste in proper containers. 

You should use sturdy trucks to carry your waste. Train your drivers to respond to emergencies with no hesitation, starting evacuations if necessary.  

Hazardous waste safety depends on you. Read waste safety guides by following our coverage.