If you own a company that uses chemicals and creates industrial waste on a regular basis, complying with your local environmental laws is essential. You could very well find yourself facing costly fines and legal problems if you ignore the environmental ramifications of your business activities. Here are two of the things you need to do to ensure your business is in line with your municipal environmental laws.
Label Hazardous Materials
You may not be aware that some of the things you use for your company are considered hazardous or toxic. As a result, you may not realize that you need to label certain materials. However, failing to do so can result in monetary penalties that could negatively affect your business, as your state's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may send someone from their enforcement office to inspect your facility and ensure you are operating properly.
Some materials that may require labeling include:
The state EPA office can help you determine what things on your site have to be labeled properly and stored appropriately. It is not enough for you to personally know what must be labeled; all of your employees should be aware and you should post signs around the site to serve as reminders.
Dispose of Hazardous Waste in the Right Way
In addition to getting rid of regular waste, it is vital that you know how to get rid of the hazardous waste your company produces on a regular basis. It can be very easy to lump in hazardous waste with the rest of the garbage from your business. However, many cities use methods to trace the source of toxic materials and may very well discover your company is to blame. If you fail to handle this kind of waste properly, you may risk getting charged with a felony, depending on the laws in your individual state and how much hazardous waste you are dumping illegally.
Your state's EPA office can tell you what specific rules you need to follow. It is good to check with that office periodically to see if there are any new laws or updates.
To know for sure that your business is complying with environmental laws in your town, talk with a lawyer, like Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke-Chartered, who specializes in environmental law. They will be able to help you find out what laws you need to follow and how to proceed.
Share26 March 2016
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