Articles by Kevin Webber

To say that COVID-19 (the latest official name for the coronavirus) is wreaking havoc all over the world is a huge understatement. The virus, which originated in China, is spreading to countries all over the globe including the United States. Medical professionals are both trying to address those already infected as well as put containment measures in place to avoid further infection.

Shredding is more than just a document disposal method. It’s a way to protect sensitive information, maintain customer and employee privacy, and prevent identity theft. It’s also the law—federal regulations like FACTA dictate how organizations should execute document destruction. Failing to follow these rules can result in massive fines, legal troubles, and damages to your brand’s reputation.

Hazardous waste generation, transportation, and disposal are strictly regulated in the United States. And for good reason! Incorrect handling or disposal of these materials can lead to releases of dangerous toxins, which can be hazardous to humans and our environment. Beyond the risks to human life and our natural ecosystems, a hazardous waste crisis can be incredibly costly for businesses.

Alabama ranks as one of the top five producers of cars and light trucks in the country. Vehicles are Alabama's number one export, and the automotive industry provides jobs to more than 40,000 people in our state. 

Alabama has about 23 million acres of timberland — the third-largest timberland acreage in the United States, after Oregon and Georgia. As a result, forestry is a key industry in our state. Pulp, paper, and lumber production contribute thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the Alabama economy every year. 

1. What are Lab Packs?

Laboratory packs aka lab packs are small containers of hazardous waste material packed in drums. They're used by hospitals, laboratories, college campuses, factories, veterinarians, embalmers — anywhere small quantities of hazardous chemicals need to be carefully stored before professionally transported and disposed of by a medical waste disposal service.

Any business that generates hazardous waste must understand and follow the code of federal and state regulations regarding the handling of it, including packaging, labeling, and disposal. Sections 22-22A-1 to 22-22A-16 of the Code of Alabama and various other Acts cover hazardous waste disposal throughout the state. Along with federal laws, they ensure that dangerous waste is properly handled in order to protect public health and the environment.

Cytotoxic, or chemotherapy waste, is a top concern for healthcare facilities who are always on the lookout for the safest, most cost-effective disposal methods. The smallest of errors when packaging, labeling, and disposing of chemo waste can have serious consequences, including steep fines and penalties for non-compliance.

Industrial and commercial activity in the U.S. produces a lot of waste every year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), industrial solid waste production alone is estimated to amount to approximately 7.6 billion tons each year, while hazardous waste generation has ranged from 20.3 to 29.1 million tons annually. Here we’ll look into the details of industrial and commercial waste, including what types of waste are generated, how it has impacted our environment, and how proper disposal of these wastes can help prevent further environmental harm, along with some basics on just what proper disposal of industrial and commercial waste entails.

Working within the healthcare industry generally means dealing with prescription medications, and doing so, like all things healthcare, means complying with regulations that govern these drugs. Among the most important of these is the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which gives the federal government the authority to single out certain drugs or substances to be much more tightly regulated than others. Drugs that are designated by the CSA as controlled substances must be treated differently than other medications, with restrictions placed on how they can be manufactured, prescribed, used, handled, stored, distributed and disposed of once they become pharmaceutical waste. Here, we’ll get into the details you need to know about controlled substances.