Hardwood Floors June/July 2019

HEALTH & SAFETY FOCUS SAFELY DISPOSING OF COATING WASTE

Since some sealers and varnishes contain harmful substances that are dangerous to our health and the environment, leftover coatings need to be handled as special waste.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (epa.gov) indicates two ways in which waste materials can be categorized as hazardous: 1. Listed waste, published on EPA’s website 2. Waste that possesses certain characteristics, such as corrosiveness, ignitability, toxicity, and reactivity

Depending on the type of coating, there is a possibility the ingredients can leach heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater if it accidentally ends up in a landfill. To protect the environment, and public health, floor coating chemicals need to be disposed of responsibly. The safe handling and disposal of leftover sealers, finishes, or solvents that are no longer needed ensures a safer tomorrow for everyone. The first step is to determine if the coating is hazardous or non-hazardous before disposing of the material. Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or contact the supplier to give you information on the product.

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