Why is hazardous waste disposal so carefully regulated?
Wastes which the EPA considers hazardous really can pose great risks to human health and the environment. You can never, under any circumstances, dispose of hazardous waste along with the regular trash. That is as important at home as in the workplace. If, for instance, you use refinishing products or change the oil in your car, you are creating hazardous wastes. By tossing these wastes down a drain or throwing them out with your trash, you can poison the ground where you dump them or under the landfill where your trash goes. These poisons may also eventually seep into underground drinking water, putting an entire community at risk. To help alleviate the preceding problems, many communities have special hazardous waste collection days. Trained people wearing protective equipment collect homeowners waste and place it in special containers for proper disposal. In addition, many local gas stations will take your used motor oil for recycling. What are the most common forms of safe and prop
