Hazardous Waste on the Farm
Hazardous wastes are defined as wastes that have the potential to cause harm to human health or the environment. The properties of hazardous waste can be grouped as follows
• Physical properties: flammable, explosive, oxidising
• Health hazard properties: carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic for reproduction, toxic, corrosive, irritant, infectious, harmful.
• Environmental hazard properties: for aquatic environment, for terrestrial environment, for ozone layer
The following are examples of common wastes that can be encountered on a farm.
| Waste Oils |  | Batteries |  |
| Fluorescent tubes |  | Paints |  |
| Pesticides |  | Needles |  |
| Waste Medicines |  | Waste Chemicals |  |
Other types of hazardous waste which may occur occasionally on farms include:
• Refrigerant gases from redundant refrigeration equipment
• Asbestos from maintenance or building works on older buildings
• PCBs contained in old electrical transformers
Hazardous waste should be treated with the respect it deserves. In terms of waste chemicals, the key is to look at the label on the product to determine if it is hazardous or not, i.e. are any of the following on the packaging
| Corrosive Material |  | Dangerous for the environment |  |
| Explosive |  | Flammable |  |
| Oxidizing Material |  | Extremely Toxic |  |
| Harmful |  | | |
What to do with Hazardous wastes
- Those supplying you in some cases will also offer a take back scheme – check with your suppliers.
- See tips on Rinsing Chemical Containers
- Hazardous waste may be collected by an Authorised waste collector or brought to an Authorised waste facility. please contact the Environment Section on (057) 9357403 to ensure the collector/facility has a permit.
How to prevent hazardous waste
- Look for alternatives or products that are less damaging to the environment.
- Use products such as chemicals before they go out of date.
- Only purchase the amounts needed.
- Store and dispose of hazardous waste through a licensed waste contractor.
