How Safe Are Recycling Centers?

Recycling as many used products, packaging, unwanted junk mail, and office paper as we can is a sensible and responsible thing we can do for our environment. The future of our natural resources relies on our ability to conserve as much as we can for as long as we can.

As much as it is obviously a good thing, recycling can be dangerous for those who are employed at recycling centers.

Most large recycling centers use a combination of mechanical and hand sorting to accomplish the everyday task of separating thousands of pounds of mixed materials. These sorted materials are then baled and sent to the world market for reuse.

“Certain materials that are recycled or reused, such as scrap metal, electronics, batteries, and used oil and other chemicals, have materials that directly pose hazards to workers.

In addition to those hazards, there are some hazards that are common across various types of recycling, such as traffic safety, moving machine parts, unexpected machine startup, lifting injuries, and slips, trips, and falls.”

A more in-depth explanation that details why other factors involved in recycling pose hazards to recycling center workers follows:

Collection - (Trash and) Recycling collection drivers remain among the top ten most dangerous jobs in the United States., possibly in the world. Drivers who are not paying attention could potentially hit a driver who is outside the vehicle. Also, drivers have tragically been backed over as their truck rolled away. “In addition to vehicle accidents, collecting recyclable material involves other hazards, such as potential lifting injuries; slips, trips and falls; and cuts and abrasions.”

Hazardous Chemicals - Recycling should be free of any liquids and residual product. An empty drain cleaner bottle can be recycled, but one still containing some of the harmful chemical can burst in the recycling process and spill onto a plant worker or equipment they handle.

Equipment – Larger recycling centers rely on the use of conveyors and other automated parts of highly sophisticated sorting machines. These machines pose possible dangers if employees are not trained properly or are not paying attention while working around them.

Sharp Objects – Some recyclable materials are actually dangerous to recycling center employees. Lids from steel cans are a great example. Although a recyclable material, the lids from cans are very sharp and can cut someone who is not paying attention or equipped with proper safety equipment.

Recycling, as a whole, is an excellent way to conserve energy and preserve our natural resources. Some simple guidelines can help add to the safety of recycling center employees.

For more information on recycling visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.

Forbes.com
osha.gov