Chemical Waste Disposal
Chemical Waste Disposal
A captain of a ship drunkenly crashes a massive oil tanker along a reef and changes the physical and emotional world forever. Chemical spills are major problems that plague the environment. Strict government regulation is trying to aid with this problem, but governmental leaders face many challenges. Disposal of harmful chemicals is often difficult and costly. Since chemical waste has destroyed the environment, steps are being taken to prevent further pollution.
A local Danish based pharmaceutical company named Novo Nordisk released its 1999 environmental report. The company, which strives to keep from contaminating the environment, confessed to two separate accidents for the year. Novo Nordisk’s Clayton, North Carolina plant was fined from the United States Department of Agriculture 1,000 dollars. This was due to the fact that 11,000 liters of hydrochloric acid was disposed of in the public sewage system (“Putting Values” 36). New management has taken action to insure this does not happen again (Wall). Also, at the Gentofte site in Denmark wastewater with the E- Coli bacteria was drained into the public sewage system from a leaky heater exchanger (“Putting Values” 36). The incident was reported to the local authorities and cleaned up quickly.
A local company offered to donate expired chemicals to local schools. The company reported it would be possible to set up an account for almost any needy school (Wall). The chemicals have expired in the date in which they can be used but, as one expert reported would be fine to use in schools for experiments and related activities. The companies prefer to donate the chemicals because it keeps them from the costly action of disposing of them properly. For example Novo Nordisk in Clayton, North Carolina has a program in which they donate hydrochloric acid and other expired chemicals to Clayton High School (Wall). A chemistry
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teacher at North Johnston High School was unaware that companies could donate their expired chemicals. Her comment of the quality of the expired chemicals was positive. “Expired chemicals would be fine to use for experiments and help me out a lot due to the small budget I am allowed each year for chemicals” (Barnes). A representative from Novo Nordisk stated that a program could easily be established if schools would show interest in the program (Wall).
Certain disasters stick out in the mind of men. They have a lasting effect and often they...