Hazardous Waste Cleanup at Homeless Camps: Why You Need a Professional
Cleaning up homeless camps is a delicate matter that should be handled with sensitivity, caution, and respect. It also requires the expertise of a professional cleanup crew that has the skills and necessary equipment for safe and efficient hazardous waste cleanup.
Homeless camps can be found across southern California, and between 2014 and 2019, unsheltered homelessness in California increased by about 37,000 people. In recent years, the state government has introduced policy and structural changes to tackle the crisis.
In 2024, the rate of unsheltered homelessness in the state stayed nearly the same, and early data for 2025 suggests a decrease in homelessness in local communities, according to state officials.
Whether camps are shut down by authorities or abandoned, someone must go in and clean them up.
When the need arises, The BioClean Team is ready. We have a homeless camp cleanup team in Southern California that is equipped to handle the job with care and dignity.
WHY DO YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL CLEANUP CREW?
Homeless camps pose several dangers to the community. With no running water, accumulating garbage, and a lack of proper sanitation, these camps are highly susceptible to infectious diseases and illness.
Hazardous waste cleanup from homeless camps is a complex and dangerous task. Hiring a professional cleanup crew that has the specialized chemicals and equipment for safe removal and disposal is important.
THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF HOMELESS CAMPS
Unfortunately, homeless camps pose several serious health dangers. Some of the common hazards that cleanup crews face include:
- Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS.
- Drug paraphernalia, such as hypodermic needles.
- Bacterial infections like typhus. Typhus is spread when infected fleas, lice, or chiggers bite you.
- Human remains. Unfortunately, poor health conditions, drug use, or even violence can result in death, and the bodies may still be in or near the camps.
- Human feces, vomit, and urine.
- Rotten food infested with parasites and bacteria.
- Physical injury from makeshift structures, sharp objects, unsafe terrain, or aggressive animals.
To prevent injury and illness, cleanup crews must have the proper training and specialized equipment to clean and disinfect the entire area, as well as safely dispose of hazardous and biohazardous waste.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF HOMELESS CAMPS
Homeless camps not only pose a health risk to the community but also harm the environment.
Garbage and hazardous materials can pollute nearby water sources like streams and rivers, and can be harmful to wildlife.
Uncontrolled campfires can also be extremely dangerous. With so much garbage, fires can easily get out of control and quickly spread. When fires get out of control, they are not only dangerous for those living in the camps but also pose a threat to wildlife and nearby houses and businesses.
WHAT’S INVOLVED IN HAZARDOUS WASTE CLEANUP?
Homelessness is a complex issue, and those living in the camps are often dealing with significant challenges and need help connecting with the proper care. That’s why cleanup crews prioritize not only safety but also showing dignity and respect to all those involved during the cleanup.
So, what’s involved in the cleanup process? It is a systematic approach that entails the following:
- To determine the extent of the contamination, the cleanup crew carefully evaluates the site. To ensure safety, they wear specialized protective gear and isolate the affected area.
- The crew safely removes and disposes of all hazardous materials following strict protocols.
- Specialized agents are used to thoroughly clean and decontaminate the area, ensuring the elimination of pathogens.
- Testing is done to verify the absence of biohazards and to make sure the area meets safety standards.
- The crew strictly adheres to local regulations to ensure proper disposal of all biohazardous waste. They also provide detailed documentation, including before-and-after photographs and test results.
HOW THE BIOCLEAN TEAM CAN HELP
Do you need help cleaning up a homeless camp? We can help. At The BioClean Team, we are equipped to handle the cleanup of sites both large and small.
Our experts are highly trained and treat all people involved in the cleanup with dignity and respect. We take a comprehensive approach to safely and properly eliminate all hazardous materials and deep clean the entire area using specialized chemicals and equipment.
Don’t tackle the complexities of homeless camp cleanup alone. Contact us today!
