Hazardous Waste and the Environment

background-board-card-825262Believe it or not, your home is full of products containing hazardous materials. Though they may not be hazardous to your health, they can be damaging to the environment when not properly disposed of. Unfortunately, many homeowners fail to properly dispose of potentially hazardous chemicals, waste, and materials every day. Though your Orlando junk removal team will take pains to properly dispose of or recycle your unwanted junk, it’s best if you understand how to do so on your own.

What Counts as Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste can be anything from chemicals and heavy metals to cooking oil — it all depends on the way in which the material impacts the environment! Remember, something as simple as used canola oil can cause issues in the water supply, while caustic chemicals, like drain cleaners, can do long-term damage to the ecosystem.

In addition to chemical waste, electronic waste is also considered hazardous. When not properly disposed of, most electronic waste can pollute the environment, leaching heavy metals and chemicals into the soil, water, and air. Anything that has a motor or a circuit board is considered hazardous waste and should always be disposed of by a professional.

What You Should Do

The easiest way to handle potentially hazardous waste is to take the items to the junkyard or your local recycling center. Many facilities have the tools and equipment needed to process the hazardous waste safely, or know where to dispose of the items without increasing any impact on the environment. Though it might be tempting to simply dump waste into your residential trash and let the garbage company take care of hauling it away, don’t. Instead, let your Orlando junk removal team haul away potentially hazardous trash.

Some Simple Tips to Protect the Environment

Though hazardous waste can be found almost everywhere, there are a few things you can do to reduce your impact. Stop using harsh and abrasive chemicals to clean your house, and keep electronic waste inside until it can be properly disposed of to prevent premature breakdown and leaching.

At Junk Angel, we pride ourselves on properly disposing of potentially hazardous waste, whether it’s an old computer or your old refrigerator. No matter what type of junk you have, we’re equipped to handle it. Fill out a service request form online or call 1-888-80ANGEL, the Orlando junk removal experts, for a free estimate today.