One of our projects here at U.S. Waste Industries involved helping a client transform a dangerous liability into a valuable asset. A bank foreclosed on an abandoned property in the South Carolina area. Vacated years ago, the entire two-acre site was littered with huge piles of waste and debris. Our site survey revealed that there were more than one thousand containers filled with both hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials.
Due to exposure to outdoor elements over an extended period of time, the condition of the containers ranged from badly damaged to totally destroyed. A significant number of the containers contained chemicals, including ammonia, acids, and other flammable and corrosive media. Since this type of waste is potentially dangerous to both human health and the environment, the US EPA was on site to supervise the clean-up.
Trained in all aspects of hazardous waste disposal and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act compliance, we deployed our professional trained HAZMAT crews to manage the disposal process. One of our first orders of business involved extensive in-field testing, followed up by certified laboratory analysis, to characterize the contents of each and every container. Once we identified the contents, we observed stringent safety protocols to repack the contents into DOT approved containers.
We worked closely with EPA personnel as well as the staff of other governing authorities to ensure all material was packed and transported in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations. Our responsibilities included obtaining all approvals and preparing manifests and other related documentation for the shipment and disposal of hazardous materials.
The other aspect of this project consisted of cleaning up the massive piles of garbage, junk, and other debris that littered the site. We collected more than 1,100 yards of trash, which amounted to 55 truckloads, and hauled it to a disposal facility. Inside of a 30-day window, working in cooperation with all agency representatives, we had the property completely cleared of all hazardous and non-hazardous waste and debris. The governing authorities issued a clean bill of health, and the bank moved the value of this property onto the asset side of the balance sheet.
To learn more about this project or any of our hazardous material disposal capabilities, contact us today.