IDR Environmental Services

Hazardous Waste Class 6: Poison

Businesses in a wide range of industries and fields work with poisonous substances on a daily basis to produce products that help people live better lives. Because poisonous or toxic materials may be an everyday reality at your Los Angeles business, proper hazardous waste removal and disposal should be a top priority for you. Here’s a look at what poisons are, how they should be disposed of, and why you should trust a hazardous waste removal company to dispose of them for you.

What are Poisons?

Poisons are a broad category of hazardous, toxic materials that can cause serious health issues or death in humans. There are three kinds of toxicity that can help to identify a poison: Oral toxicity, dermal toxicity, and inhalation toxicity. Poisons with oral toxicity are only toxic when ingested orally. Dermal toxicity means the poison is dangerous when it comes into contact with skin. Inhalation toxicity means that the poison produces a vapor, dust, or mist that can be toxic.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Process

Improper disposal of hazardous waste can take many different forms. One of the most basic and common forms of improper waste disposal for poisonous materials is failing to store or label the waste. All poisons should be stored securely to meet federal guidelines enforced by the Department of Transportation. Containers should also use the proper class 6 labels that indicate its contents are toxic or poisonous. Poisons should then be transported to a waste disposal facility where they are processed by waste disposal professionals.

Hiring a Class 6 Waste Removal Service

Hiring a hazardous waste removal service is beneficial for a number of reasons. It eliminates your liability for disposing of wastes since you’ve hired a trusted, professional service. It also minimizes the risk of contaminating your workplace and environment, which means your employees will be kept safe.

For professional hazardous waste removal services in the Los Angeles area, contact IDR Environmental Services at (626) 513-4576. We serve businesses throughout LA with professional waste management and removal services. Call us today to set up waste management services for your business.

What is E-Waste?

With technology evolving at a faster and faster pace, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the changes we encounter in our daily lives. But as we upgrade the technological capabilities of our businesses, we often produce tons and tons of waste in the form of old technology. Unfortunately, this waste, known as e-waste, can be incredibly hazardous. Disposing of e-waste properly can help to reduce the environmental impact of your Los Angeles area business and help you stay compliant with local, state, and federal laws regarding e-waste disposal.

According to Greenpeace, the average lifespan of common electronics is shrinking rapidly. 15 years ago, the average computer had a lifespan of six years. In 2007, computers were only designed to last two years. Mobile phones, consumer electronics, and other forms of e-waste have similar, shrinking life spans that equate to tons and tons of electronic junk piling up in landfills. Asia alone produces as much as 12 million tons of e-waste a year.

But the sheer expendability of electronics isn’t the only problem with e-waste. What matters most are the hazardous chemicals contained within modern electronics. For example, CRT televisions that are continually filling landfills contain a substantial amount of lead, an extremely poisonous heavy metal. Cell phone batteries contain large amounts of cadmium, lithium, and lead, which are known to be explosive and to cause cancer. Computer components are often made with mercury. All of these materials contain hard plastics that are not biodegradable, which means that your high-tech waste could sit in a landfill for hundreds of years.

Proper e-waste disposal is not just good for the environment; it’s also good for business. Proper e-waste disposal sends a message to clients and customers that you are an environmentally conscious, responsible business, which is becoming more and more important in our increasingly “green” social and professional environment. It also protects you from liability for environmental contamination associated with hazardous e-waste.

For expert e-waste disposal services in Los Angeles, contact IDR Environmental Services today at (626) 513-4576.

Certified Product Disposal: What It Is and Why Your Company May Need It

When companies dispose of waste or excess inventory, it’s important to know exactly what happens to it. Knowing that old merchandise, pharmaceutical waste, e-waste, and other hazardous and non-hazardous materials are disposed of properly is essential to protecting your business legally and financially. At IDR Environmental Services, we aim to give our clients the peace of mind that comes with effective waste disposal. That’s why we offer certified product disposal services for all kinds of waste.

Many different factors must be taken into consideration when a company is disposing of waste. In addition to the present implications of waste disposal, businesses should also consider the future impact of waste disposal, and whether or not wastes need to be disposed of in a specific way. IDR Environmental Services addresses this requirement by offering Los Angeles-area businesses legal documentation of proper waste disposal.

Certified waste disposal can help you avoid legal or financial liabilities associated with improper waste disposal. For example, companies that must process e-waste that contains sensitive client information need to know that their identities, financial information, and contact information are confidential. Certified waste disposal removes the liability of potential information leaks off your shoulders, and places the burden for proper disposal on the waste removal company.

Pharmaceutical and medical companies must also ensure that their waste is being disposed of as safely as possible. Keeping drugs and contaminated medical equipment from being distributed throughout Los Angeles or harming the environment should be the responsibility of the waste removal service. By receiving certification that these hazardous wastes were destroyed, you’ll be legally protected from any waste-disposal concerns that affect your industry.

To learn more about the benefits of certified product disposal, contact IDR Environmental Services today at (626) 513-4576. We’re the Los Angeles area’s leading waste removal service, specializing in pharmaceutical waste, e-waste, and other hazardous or non-hazardous waste removal.

Hazardous Waste Class 5: Oxidizers

The Department of Transportation uses a classification system that organizes hazardous chemicals and materials into different groups, referred to as classes. Examples of classes include explosives, gases, flammable solids, and radioactive materials. One class of hazardous materials that your business may use is oxidizers, which are labeled as class 5 hazardous materials. Here’s a look at what oxidizers are, and why you need a hazardous waste removal service to dispose of them for you.

What are oxidizers?

As their name suggests, oxidizers are compounds that give off oxygen while reacting with other materials. Although oxygen itself isn’t necessarily hazardous, the production of oxygen in high concentrations is extremely dangerous. In the event of a fire or chemical reaction, the presence of oxidizers can lead to massive combustion of an otherwise small, contained chemical event. For this reason, oxidizers should only be handled by highly qualified waste disposal specialists.

How are oxidizers handled?

Because oxidizers are so hazardous and reactive, they need to be disposed of and transported in a very specific way. Oxidizers need to be disposed of separately from wastes that are flammable or easy to burn, such as paper, gasoline, or wood. They should also always be sealed or tightly closed in a durable, leak-free container.

Who should handle Class 5 emergencies?

In addition to knowing how they should be transported, it’s important that your waste removal service is properly trained to handle emergency situations. Waste removal specialists should know exactly what to do in the event of any kind of spill to ensure the safety of your facility, staff, and others around you.

For expert hazardous waste removal services in the Los Angeles area, contact IDR Environmental Services at (626) 513-4576. We provide hazardous and non-hazardous waste management services, including pharmaceutical-waste and e-waste removal.

A Look at IDR Environmental Services' Waste Management Solutions

IDR Environmental Services understands that reliable support and knowledgeable staff can minimize your company's liability and make your waste cleanup effortless. With over 50 years of cumulative experience in the hazardous waste industry, supporting clients in the Pharmaceutical, Industrial and Government sectors, we provide services that meet all of our client's individual needs. 

We offer the following services:

• Hazardous waste management
• Non-hazardous waste management
• Certified product destruction
• Emergency response
• Lab pack services
• Industrial cleaning
• Facility closures
• Pharmaceutical waste disposal
• E-waste disposal

For more information about any of our services, or to request a free quote, please contact IDR Environmental Services today at 626-513-4576.