How We Help Companies Meet Compliance with NYSDEC and EPA Waste Management Standards
Waste management is a hot issue for towns and businesses. Large amounts of waste can be difficult to dispose of efficiently, especially when subject to strict regulations by state or federal agencies. These laws exist for a reason, however, and failure to comply can have serious consequences. With Sun Environmental Corp., learn more about our New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compliance services and how they can benefit your business and community.
What Are Solid and Hazardous Wastes?
Solid waste encompasses any discarded materials. The term is a catch-all that refers to general trash or garbage created by a community, from food scraps to yard waste or paper. Despite the name, solid waste can be in the form of solids, liquids, or gases.
Hazardous waste is a subtype of solid waste, and it is harmful to human health or the environment. Some are listed by the EPA for their potential to cause harm. Others are characteristic, meaning that they are deemed hazardous because they have at least one of the following qualities:
- Toxic
- Flammable
- Reactive
- Corrosive
Both solid and hazardous wastes cause problems when they are not handled correctly. For this reason, state and federal organizations impose regulations to ensure that businesses and municipalities dispose of their waste as safely as possible. Complying with these regulations is essential to avoid serious repercussions, both for your community and your business.
The Consequences of Improper Waste Management
While solid waste is not always harmful by itself, it becomes a menace as large quantities build up. Solid waste pollutes the air and water surrounding landfills, impacting plant and animal life. It also generates toxic gases like methane and carbon dioxide as it decomposes. People who live near landfills are susceptible to life-altering diseases, including:
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Leukemia
- Birth defects
Hazardous waste is even more dangerous. Improper hazardous waste management has caused multiple devastating incidents throughout United States history, including the Love Canal disaster, Onondaga Lake, the Gold King Mine spill, and other infamous events that poisoned whole communities and caused rampant health issues. Many hazardous waste incidents required cleanups costing hundreds of millions of dollars and remain toxic, even decades later.
Because irresponsible waste management is so detrimental, it has consequences for your company as well. Businesses and municipalities that don’t handle waste appropriately are subject to high fines and may be forced to pay for expensive cleanup efforts. It also reflects poorly on your reputation, further eating into your profits by diminishing the trust of your customers.
Our NYSDEC and EPA Compliance Services
Municipalities and businesses in the state of New York are subject to waste handling regulations by NYSDEC and the EPA. Both entities impose their own laws and penalties to ensure proper waste management practices.
Failure to comply with either the NYSDEC or the EPA results in steep consequences. Running a business while adhering to two sets of regulations can be challenging, but Sun Environmental Corp. is here to help. We provide a range of services to help clients stay compliant, including:
- Environmental consulting: Our knowledgeable experts help you identify and implement sound solutions, which suit your business operations while helping you stay in compliance.
- Environmental remediation: Even with careful practices, accidents can happen. Our remediation services provide prompt containment and cleanup of spills and contamination.
- Tank services: Your on-site tanks are key to your operations. We help you stay productive while keeping tanks clean and in good condition to prevent spills and leakage.
- Waste recycling: We remove, transport, and recycle solid, hazardous, and mixed waste, helping you dispose of waste safely and in compliance with applicable regulations.
- Sustainable solutions: We also set up waste-to-energy solutions that convert industrial or municipal solid waste (MSW) into green energy, helping you give back to your community.
Sun Environmental Corp. has over 50 years of combined experience serving Upstate New York with personalized environmental solutions. Our team is highly trained and uses the latest technologies to work quickly, effectively, and safely, and we have experience in handling a wide range of solid and hazardous waste types. We also establish long-standing relationships, giving you the peace of mind that insight comes from a partner that understands your needs and operation.
Explore Our Waste Management Solutions
Protect your business, your community, and the environment by consulting Sun Environmental Corp. for waste management solutions that comply with state and federal standards. With offices in Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, we serve Central, Western, and Northern NY, as well as the Southern Tier and NY Capital Region. Contact us today to learn more or to get started with EPA compliance services.
