1. With all of the liability that generators face these days how can we protect ourselves from environmental companies that do not handle our waste properly?

 

With many environmental service companies going out of business, it is extremely important for all generators to be sure their waste is handled properly and in accordance with all local, state and federal regulations.

 

Generators should check the longevity of the company they are working with and also the amount of liability insurance coverage they carry. This will indicate how concerned they are in all aspects of handling your waste. You may also inquire with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for their trucking history and inspection record. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) will also have an inspection record for their facility.

 

All of the above information is a good way to investigate the company you are thinking about using for your waste removal, but the best way is to check with other companies that are using the environmental company to see how they are doing. A satisfied and happy customer will always be the best indicator of how well an environmental service company is doing.

2. What is the best way to handle the disposal of a "hazardous waste" product?

 

Each and every type of hazardous waste material is different. Depending upon the types of chemicals that are involved in the waste, and the concentrations of those materials, Asbury will obtain MSDS sheets, chemical analysis or a sample of the material for assessment to determine the best way to dispose of the material. Remember it is very important to investigate the different ways available to dispose of your waste material. Asbury works with various disposal facilities to handle your waste material properly and in a cost-effective manner.

3. Should all waste material be recycled or should it be disposed of differently?

 

Generators of waste material should know the options of how to handle different types of hazardous waste material. Options for handling hazardous waste material differ greatly. Direct landfill will usually be the least costly way to dispose of waste material, but this option is limited to the less dangerous types. Also, the landfill option does not alleviate the future liability of the generator.

 

Reuse, recycling or incineration of the material will address the future liability of your company from the waste material because the waste material is either changed from a waste to a new product or eliminated by total incineration. These options are more widely used than any other disposal/recycle methods, but they are more costly. Asbury will investigate all methods and inform you of various options so you can make an informed decision.

 

4. Who is responsible for making sure all the paperwork is completed properly and legally?

 

Regulations state that the generator of the waste material is responsible for making sure that all paperwork for shipment is correct. For customer convenience, Asbury and its customer service department will handle all paperwork required for shipment of your waste material. Manifesting, Profiling, Land Disposal Restriction Forms, Bill of Lading and all attachments required will be provided by our company for your waste material. Our project managers and drivers will fill out the forms on site for your signature. However, it is always important for the generator to check the paperwork as by law they are responsible for it being correct.

 

5. If an accident should occur in a transport truck on the way from our facility or to the disposal site, is our company liable?

 

The Cradle to Grave law for hazardous waste always makes the generator liable for the waste material, unless the material is recycled, reused or incinerated. For this reason it is imperative that your company be sure that the hazardous waste handling company operates legally and is responsible for all of its operations. Asbury has a fully staffed and equipped Emergency Response Department available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. In the rare event a shipment of material is involved in an incident, our ER department will properly clean up any spill, repackage and transport it to the proper disposal/treatment facility. We will inform the customer of what happened, but we will handle all requirements for cleaning up the incident.

 

6. In case we want to check your compliance record with US DOT and the EPA, what are your registration numbers?

 

Our US DOT Registration Number is 071000-001-0401, and our EPA number is CAD-028-277-036.

 

7. Where can I find more information about regulations regarding Hazardous Waste Manifests and the EPA-ID we need before shipping hazardous waste materials away from our property?

 

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) maintains information online about Hazardous Waste Manifests and related material. Click here for that information and here regarding the EPA-ID.

 

Please feel free to contact us via email at Info@AsburyEnv.com or by phone at our corporate office at (800) 974-4495 with any other questions you may have.