The City of San Antonio Hazardous Waste Disposal Regulations

The city of San Antonio hazardous waste disposal regulations reflect many of the rules and regulations seen across the country. Since hazardous waste poses a threat to the waterways, and therefore the United States public, careful action must be taken to ensure that all potentially harmful products are handled in such a way to minimize the risk of contamination. Government agencies and the citizens of San Antonio are entrusted with these important responsibilities.

As you read through this article about San Antonio’s hazardous waste disposal regulations, think about the hazardous waste currently in your home. Did you know those products were potentially toxic? Are you storing them with safety in mind? Have you been disposing of those products in a way that would satisfy San Antonio’s regulations? It is vital for the safety of the public that we ask ourselves these questions from time to time, and that we challenge our assumptions about toxic waste.

Define Hazardous Waste

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are a few categories of hazardous waste. There are Characteristic Wastes, Mixed Wastes, Universal Wastes, and Listed Wastes. They can be broken down as:

• Listed Wastes – Cleaning solvents, sludge from wastewater, certain pesticides, some pharmaceutical products, and waste from pesticide manufacturing or petroleum refining.
• Characteristic Wastes – Certain refuse types that are not seen in the Listed category. They are prone to “ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.”
• Universal Wastes – Pesticides that are not included in the Listed Wastes. They also include batteries, items that contain mercury, and fluorescent bulbs.
• Mixed Wastes – Anything that contains both hazardous and radioactive components.

How Hazardous Waste Can Pollute the Waterways

Hazardous waste that is not disposed of based on the city of San Antonio hazardous waste disposal regulations could find its way into the planet’s waterways. This can be done one of two ways:

1. Hazardous waste products left in regular garbage cans end up in landfills. Assuming the containers are not empty, the products can seep or leak out and drain into the ground where it can be carried by storm water runoff into creeks and rivers.
2. The hazardous products could be illegally dumped directly into storm drains. From there, the hazardous materials will dump directly into creeks and rivers. This can cause enormous damage to the environment.

How To Properly Store Hazardous Materials

The process of properly disposing hazardous materials begins with how the materials are purchased and stored. By looking after the materials from the beginning, you can lessen their potential damage. Some helpful tips for purchasing and storing hazardous waste include:

• Only buy the items in the quantity that you need. Any leftovers that you do not want to store should (1) be disposed of using the drop-off center explored below, (2) given to a friend or neighbor, or (3) donated to an organization that knows how to handle it.
• Carefully read all the labels to see if the products are or are not considered to be hazardous.
• Always store your products safely. Make sure to follow the storage directions and look for holes, tears, or broken seals on the products. Keep all hazardous products in separate containers and avoid mixing them together.

San Antonio Hazardous Waste Drop-Off

At any time, San Antonio residents can bring their household hazardous waste (HHW) to the city’s HHW Drop-Off Center. San Antonio customers that pay for an environmental fee in their CPS bill get the service for free.

Residents that want to use the service should come to the HHW Drop-Off Center with a photo ID and a copy of their CPS bill. All items should be placed in a trunk or truck bed while transporting them to the HHW Drop-Off Center.

How To Be Eligible For the HHW Drop-Off Center

You must properly prepare your hazardous waste for the HHW Drop-Off Center to make sure your drop-off fits the city of San Antonio waste disposal rules. Some of those preparations include:

• The hazardous contents should be placed in their original container.
• If you notice the container has sprung a leak, transfer all the contents to a lined cardboard or leakproof box.
• Different materials should not be mixed in the same bag or container.
• Any materials brought in a non-approved container will be returned.
• Liquid waste and paint are limited to five five-gallon cans and 25 one-gallon cans. There is a 220-pound limit.

Presumption of Risk

Every person that enters a waste drop-off center in San Antonio is assuming the risk of damage or injury that could relate to this action. Upon entering the HHW Drop-Off Center, the patrons have given away their ability to sue and to indemnify.

This rule exists because the city wants to protect its employees from legal claims, whether real or asserted. These rules do not typically have an impact on anyone until there is a reason for someone to sue. Then it can present an obstacle.

What Clean Management Environmental Group Can Do for Your Waste

We provide a variety of disposal and treatment services for hazardous and non-hazardous waste to businesses all over Texas. Handling your project from cradle to grave, we can help dispose of your waste, whether you are dealing with 5-gallon pails or 85-gallon overpacks.

Plenty of our customers have left waste lying around their site for years without any idea what the chemicals could be. We specialize in identifying waste so we can ensure its proper disposal. We also fill out all the paperwork needed to bring the waste to the facility. We cover everything, from labels to markings.

Summation

The city of San Antonio comes with it its own hazardous waste disposal specifications. Understanding these rules and regulations will aid people that might need to rid their homes of dangerous chemicals.

For people looking to manage the waste themselves, the HHW Drop-Off Center has strict specifications for how one should prepare the waste. For businesses that need a partner in handling vast amounts of chemical or hazardous waste, Clean Management Environmental Group is always ready to take on a new, challenging project.