Our world is changing, driven by consumerism and if not careful, inundated by toxins the various processes that a contemporary society creates – it’s why proper disposal and recycling of all materials, especially those deemed toxic is no longer optional but critical. A hundred years ago, we predominantly discarded food scraps and coal ash with products made from natural materials like paper, cloth, leather, metal, and wood and most were reused or recycled at the end of their useful life. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 1960 U.S. citizens disposed of 2.7 pounds of trash per person each day; today it’s up to 4.5 pounds of trash per person every day – while recycling rates have stagnated at around 35 percent for much of the past decade. At H.L. Demolition & Waste Management Ltd, we are always striving for a healthier tomorrow by supporting and applying green demolition and other related services whenever possible. There were and are many household construction materials that include toxic materials, which pose health threats to workers, wildlife, and to all of us – either through direct exposure, or by indirect exposure through ingesting or inhaling pollutants that migrate out of products into the environment and the food chain. The use of hazardous material is becoming even more prevalent. As such, hazardous waste must be properly handled and when it comes to demolition and renovation projects, waste removal procedures should not be neglected. To meet the requirements for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), the material needs to display at least one or more of the following hazardous traits: ignitability, reactivity, corrosivity, and/or toxicity. Some of the common HHW is generated from your own home includes paints, automotive wastes, pesticides, electronics, aerosols, and ammunition. Here are a few tips to properly dispose of your HHW: • Recycle - many hazardous waste materials (HAZMAT) can be recycled into new products. Think of lead-acid batteries or electronic circuit boards where the heavy metals can be recovered and used in many new products. You can also share items like extra oil, fertilizer or building materials with a person or organization who is need. • Hazardous waste collection facilities – Victoria’s Hartland Landfill receives garbage, recyclables, product stewardship items, and household hazardous waste with over 80 items from 25 product categories accepted for recycling. Visit www.crd.bc.ca for details. • Syringes or prescription drugs – medical waste need to be disposed of properly and safely. Most pharmacies carry a mini disposal box where you can throw away used syringes and will take unused medications for disposal. They should never be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet or sink. • Demolition waste is debris from destruction of a building. The debris varies from insulation, electrical wiring, rebar, wood, concrete, drywall and bricks. It also may contain lead, asbestos or different hazardous materials. Certain components of demolition waste such as plasterboard are hazardous once landfilled where it is broken down releasing toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. British Columbians have come count on the H.L. Demolition & Waste Management Ltd team to follow all safety regulations and procedures as well as environmental standards, knowing which waste management procedures work best for your hazardous waste materials. There is the potential to recycle many elements of demolition waste. Rubble can be crushed and reused in construction projects. Waste wood can also be recovered and recycled. From heavy manufacturing jobsites to offices, at H.L. Demolition & Waste Management Ltd, we do demolition, hazardous waste removal, asbestos abatement, salvage, and much more. Contact H.L. Demolition & Waste Management Ltd. at 250-383-4444 today to discuss our range of services and to schedule a free consultation.