Chapter 1

TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT

By Sammuel Joseph Alcantara, CpE and Michael Angelo Tan, CpE
Abstract
Wastes that are hazardous are poisonous byproducts of farming, manufacturing, construction,
laboratories, automotive garages and other industries. We know that wastes produced by such
industries usually harm humans, animals, and plants that is why we need to manage those waste to
keep human and its environment safe at all times.
Different methods of waste management was introduced and briefly discussed in this paper to show
the different options on how we, as individuals, can manage those toxics and hazardous wastes
present in our environment today.
This paper will give you knowledge and some background on how the methods of disposal works. It
will be thoroughly discussed, so that you will be able to achieve everyones goal which is to minimize
incidence pertaining to the mishandling of wastes and toxic substances.

INTRODUCTION
Write your introduction here. Write your introduction here. Write your introduction here.
Write your introduction here. Write your introduction here. Write your introduction here.
Write your introduction here. Write your introduction here. Write your introduction here.
Write your introduction here.

WASTE
Any unwanted item or substance resulting from a human activity or process is called
waste.
Types of Waste

M2107

ENVISM 1st Term 2015-2016

We have four type of waste first is Municipal solid waste, second is industrial solid
waste, third is Hazardous waste and lastly the Wastewater. Municipal solid wastes are the one
coming from homes, institutions, and small businesses. Industrial solid wastes are those from
production of consumer goods, mining, petroleum extraction, and agriculture. Hazardous
waste (which is our main focus) are basically those toxic, chemically reactive, flammable, or
corrosive. And lastly, the waste water are the water used in homes, businesses, etc., and
drained or flushed, plus runoff from streets [2].
It is important for us to manage these waste for several reasons such as; wastes
degrades water, soil and air quality it does environmental and ecological harm also waste
does harm to human health and its a symptom of inefficiency[1].
TOXIC WASTE AND HAZARDOUS WASTE
Toxic wastes was defined as the waste material that can cause birth defects to living
creatures, death, or injury. This wastes spreads quite easily and can contaminate rivers, lakes,
and the atmosphere. One might notice in other article that toxic wastes and hazardous waste
are usually used interchangeably since the two terms almost have the same meaning. But
still they actually do have their difference.
On the other hand, hazardous wastes are those wastes that poses substantial threats to
public health or the environment. Acids, Bases, Cyanides, Organics (non-flammables),
flammables, oxidizers, pesticides, and paints are some of the examples.
It can be inferred based on the definition that all toxic chemicals are hazardous, but
not all hazardous chemicals are toxic.
Republic Act No. 6969

M2107

ENVISM 1st Term 2015-2016

The RA No. 6969 otherwise known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1900 provides the legal framework for the countrys program
to control and manage the importation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, transport,
treatment and disposal of toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes. In 1990 the
Philippine Congress passed the law with the ultimate goal of ensuring full protection of the
peoples health and the environment from unreasonable risked posed by industrial chemicals
and chemical substances.
Recycling
Recycling is done by collecting materials that can be broken down and reprocessed in
order to manufacture new items. Sometimes items are taken to material recovery facilities
where workers prepare them for reprocessing and once readied, these materials are used in
manufacturing new goods.
There are three steps for recycling. First step is the collection and processing of
recyclable materials by municipalities and businesses. Second step is the use of recyclables
by industry to manufacture new products. And the third step is when the consumer purchase
of products made from recycled materials [3].
HAZARDOUS WASTE (continued)
When a certain waste poses a potential danger to human health we consider it as a
hazardous waste. And it is a fact that heavy metals and organic compounds are two of the
worst types of hazardous waste. Heavy metals includes mercury, lead, chromium, arsenic,
cadmium, tin, and copper. While organic compounds pertains to those synthetic pesticides,
petroleum products, rubber, solvents, preservatives, etc.[4].
Criteria of Hazardous Waste
We say that a specific waste is hazardous if it satisfies the four criterias of a
hazardous waste. The four criterias are: Corrosivity, Ignitability, Reactivity and Toxicity. A
corrosive material can destroy a substance an example for this are most of the acids that can
burn skin on contact, and those materials that gives off vapors that burn the eyes. On the
other hand ignitable materials are materials that can burst into flames easily, or simply it
poses a fire hazard; an example for this are paint, furniture polish, and gasoline. While
reactive materials are those materials that can create poisonous gas when combined with
other chemicals; chlorine bleach and ammonia are example they create poisonous gas when
they come in contact with each other. Lastly toxic materials are substances that can poison

M2107

ENVISM 1st Term 2015-2016

people and other life, this can cause illness and even death if swallowed or absorbed through
the skin. Pesticides, and household cleaners are samples for toxic.

It is necessary for us to know the options for disposal of Hazardous waste for the
reason that improper disposal of such material may cause danger to everyone including the
environment.
Disposal methods of hazardous waste includes landfills, surface impoundments, and
deep-well injection. In surface impoundments we allow the hazardous waste evaporates but
leaves residue but this is not ideal since this is really intended for temporary storage because
there are possibilities that the waste might blow out, vaporize, or leak. For deep-well
injection whats happening there is that hazardous wastes are being injected in porous rock
level of the ground, this one seems a good idea but it is actually not since there is the risk that
waste can leak out into ground water [5].
There is this special types of hazardous waste which is much produced by military
and hospitals, and some by research institutions, we call this radioactive waste: it is
extremely hard to find a place to dump it that is not opposed by local people this is why it is
especially dangerous [6].

SUMMARY
Summarize what you have learned. Your paper should have a minimum of 1000 words
including references.

M2107

ENVISM 1st Term 2015-2016

REFERENCES
[1] B.Cummings. The Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Pearson
Education Inc., 2006, p.6
[2] B.Cummings. The Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Pearson
Education Inc., 2006, p.4
[3] B.Cummings. The Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Pearson
Education Inc., 2006, p.25
[4] B.Cummings. The Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Pearson
Education Inc., 2006, pp.42 - 44
[5] B.Cummings. The Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Pearson
Education Inc., 2006, p.46
[6] B.Cummings. The Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Belmont, CA: Pearson
Education Inc., 2006, p.49

M2107

ENVISM 1st Term 2015-2016