Your resource is the Business Waste Line at 206-263-8899, toll free 1-800-325-6165, ext. 3-8899.
For floods, visit www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans.
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Handling hazardous materials - expect floods.
Your business does not have to be located in a floodplain to be flooded by natural or manmade events. Business owners are liable for any contamination and clean-up caused by hazardous materials.
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| What will your storage and clean-up look like? |
Manage your chemical products and wastes before flood season.
Most businesses have hazardous materials that can contaminate flood waters and can be hazardous to you, your employees, emergency personnel or the environment. Business owners are liable for any contamination and clean-up caused by hazardous products or waste. Avoid expensive and complicated clean-up by keeping only small stocks of hazardous materials on site.
1. Before the flood, take advantage of services to reduce your stock of hazardous materials.
Work with your suppliers and hazardous waste vendors to evaluate what you need to keep onsite.
An up-to-date inventory of your materials will help responders and with post flood clean-up.
There are services and assistance available to help businesses identify and reduce hazardous materials, at no additional cost. You’ve paid for these services through your utility bill – use them!
The Business Waste Line can provide recommendations to help reduce your risk and liability.
- Call the Business Waste Line at 206-263-8899, toll free at 1-800-325-6165, ext. 3-8899 with questions or for information on any of these services or recommendations:
- Schedule a free, on-site visit and get technical assistance to help you address processes and wastes specific to your business.
- Qualifying King County businesses can use household hazardous waste facilities and the Wastemobile at the Auburn SuperMall. Businesses fill out a Business Disposal Pilot Form and agree to complete a brief survey 2-4 weeks after disposal.
- Qualifying King County businesses may also use the new Wastemobile service at the Auburn SuperMall. The Wastemobile is at the mall twice a month – on the 1st and 3rd full (Friday,
Saturday and Sunday) weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., located in Northwest corner of the mall off of SuperMall Way.
- You may be eligible for our Voucher Incentive Program. You could be reimbursed for up to 50% of the total costs —up to $500—to manage, dispose, reduce or recycle hazardous wastes; visit:
www.govlink.org/hazwaste/business/financial.html.
- Request a copy of the Hazardous Waste Directory (Yellow Book), which describes regulations, storage, handling, transportation and spill control for hazardous materials. It also provides local and state contacts, how and where to dispose of hazardous waste, with specific guidance and vendors for each waste. On-line at: www.govlink.org/hazwaste/business/wastedirectory/.
- Another easy to use alternative is IMEX. IMEX is a free online service where you can advertise your unwanted business materials and by-products. See: www.govlink.org/hazwaste/business/imex/ on posting your materials.
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| Plan ahead to keep materials out of floodwaters. |
2. Avoid stockpiling hazardous materials.
If possible, time your stocking of hazardous materials to eliminate or reduce them during flood season. If this is not practical for your business operations, try to:
- Purchase the smallest amounts.
- Use up what you have and eliminate stocks.
- Use the safest products or alternatives available.
- Dispose of waste accumulations before flood season, or as soon as you can. Work with vendors and suppliers to reduce drums you may be storing. If not secured, they will float in floods.
- Know what hazardous materials you are storing, their hazards, safe handling, disposal, and clean-up procedures. Contact suppliers for information.
- For remaining materials, have a spill plan and clean-up materials. Train employees on how to use the plans and spill kits.
3. Store hazardous materials properly.
- Label all containers.
- Keep products and wastes in the original containers, sealed and in good condition.
- Secure equipment, supplies and containers so that they do not float away or break open, endangering structures or people.
- If practical and safe, store materials inside above flood levels. Use waterproof containers, second story storage or mezzanines. Check with your local fire department at www.rpin.org/rpinweb/publicsafety.aspx
- Evaluate your flood barriers, flood doors, or other flood protection devices.
4. Other resources are available.
- For information on flood insurance, to find flood maps, and to learn about the warning systems, visit: www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding.aspx.
- Prepare a business plan for disasters that includes employee communications, evacuation, hazardous spill response, sheltering in place and other topics. Prepare for disaster clean-up with essentials like gloves, boots, coveralls, eye protection, duct tape, plastic bags, trash cans, buckets, and spill kits. For more information, see www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare/residents_business/BusinessPreparedness.aspx.
- For guidance on underground storage fuel tanks within flood zones, visit http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0909190.pdf.
- For locations where small businesses may safely recycle unwanted computers, go to: www.ecyclewashington.org.
- For sand bag instructions see http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/op/em/HowToBag.htm.
Emergency information for your city
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