Lead Paint Disposal
Paint with lead and the dust it generates is now considered to be a serious health hazard due to its high level of toxicity. Besides being poisonous, lead is also a persistent pollutant with an extended reach due to its presence in the natural environment via manmade structures.
It has a number of symptoms which are similar to other causes and which can eventually lead to death if left undiagnosed. For instance, exposure to lead can prevent the development of cognitive abilities in children which can lead to mental health issues at an early age.
In the last couple of years a number of federal and state laws have been introduced that protect workers from lead exposure in the workplace. Personnel such as maintenance staff, contractors, painters and property owners have to adhere to these regulations to avoid penalties and fines.
Some common rules that can help with compliance include:
In the last couple of years a number of federal and state laws have been introduced that protect workers from lead exposure in the workplace. Personnel such as maintenance staff, contractors, painters and property owners have to adhere to these regulations to avoid penalties and fines.
Some common rules that can help with compliance include:
- Maintaining property and ensuring that the paint is not chipped in places.
- Assuming that the paint job on a house that was made before 1978 has lead in it.
- Using work practices during remodeling and renovations that are lead-safe and can be contained easily to prevent exposure.
- Making sure lead hazards are disclosed to tenants and potential buyers beforehand.
Disposing lead based paint
Proper disposal is necessary for all lead based products that can harm with exposure. A leachate extraction test can determine dangerous levels. If the results are 5 mg/L for lead that means that the paint has toxic levels of the substance and should be disposed of immediately via a hazardous waste disposal service.Proper disposal is necessary for all lead based products that can harm with exposure. A leachate extraction test can determine dangerous levels. Click To Tweet
In any case, the lead based paint cannot be disposed of at a regional solid waste landfill or a C&D site if it is leachable toxic. If the paint has a lead content of less than 1000 ml/kg then it can be discarded in landfills and a C&D site that has been approved by the environment regulating authorities in your state. However, this is only applicable to objects that contain lead based paint and which is not chipping or peeling off. Objects that have peeling paint cannot be disposed of in C&D sites but these regulations differ according to state. For instance in California, paint chips that comprise of lead or dust have to be treated as hazardous waste materials. In addition, workers who handle this paint have to adhere to certain safety precautions. This includes:- Collecting all lead based debris such as paint chips in trash bags that can be disposed off easily.
- Ensuring that larger lead based materials are stored in containers that can be disposed off easily.
- Ensuring that all lead based waste and debris is stored in a locked and covered dumpster until operations are complete. All debris that is plastic wrapped should be kept under lock and key in a separate room till it is ready to be disposed of.
