When you are cleaning out your property it is easy to just begin throwing everything away without any idea of the harm you are doing. If you’re beginning a large cleanout it’s important to remember how to properly dispose of certain items. There are many items that are not allowed in dumpsters or normal landfills. Remembering what items need specialized care will help you from hurting the environment and incurring a fine. In this article, we’ll discuss 5 categories of items that cannot be disposed of within a normal landfill or conventional dumpster.
1. Electronics
If you have electronics that you no longer use and cannot donate then make sure not to throw them in mixed or general landfills. Electronics have all sorts of toxic waste that is terrible for the environment. On top of the batteries within these electronics being terrible, many other electrical components contain mercury and lead. Rather than tossing them normally make sure to find an e-waste recycling center to properly dispose of your electrical waste.
2. Paints & Chemicals
Never put paint or other harmful chemicals in a drain, sewer system, or general trash bin. These chemicals can seep deep into the ground and affect our water supply. The spread of harmful chemicals throughout the area affects the land and lives of those who live near it.
3. Tires
Tires may seem like harmless items to throw away but in reality, they have numerous toxic heavy metals, oils, and chemicals inside them. If a tire is disposed it’ll last quite a while within the landfill without any movement. Tires will only continue to take up more space and make it hard to dispose of waste proeplry.
4. Motor Oil
Similar to other chemicals motor oil is very toxic and can take a very long time to decompose. If not disposed of properly it can contaminate all kinds of waterways. It’s said that one quart of motor oil can contaminate around one million gallons of water. This means motor oil should always be handled with extreme caution.
5. Light bulbs
Probably the most interesting item you’re improperly disposing of is light bulbs. They are considered hazardous because when they break they release all kinds of toxic material. The glass used for some light bulbs also takes longer to melt down compared to standard glass. Therefore, check your local policies to discover what kinds of lightbulbs go where and how to dispose of them.
Rent a New Dumpster Today!
For more information on trash and to schedule a dumpster for your next large scale property cleanout contact Schiebel Waste today. We have a variety of dumpster sizes that are always pristine and ready to be dropped off!
