How is hazardous waste disposed of?
A. Disposing of acids, pesticides, dioxins, toxic ash, radioactive waste, sewage sludge and other types of hazardous waste is the most dangerous waste problem. If such waste is buried, great care must be taken so that it does not contaminate underground water sources. If stored in drums, care must be taken that the drums do not corrode. Most toxic waste remains toxic so simply storing them does not solve the long-term problem. Several disposal methods, each with varying degrees of safety and expense, have been developed by the industrialised countries. But for many hazardous waste, such as radioactive waste, there are no completely safe disposal methods. Much hazardous waste has been dumped in landfills or stored in surface impoundments where leaks have contaminated groundwater and soil. In some cases, such as Love Canal in the United States, public health is threatened. Of the 32,000 potentially dangerous sites in the United States, 1,200 need immediate remedial action – clean-up cost
