| "Are you part of the pollution or part of the | | | | aerosol paints, CFL Florescent lights - they contain |
| Solution?" | | | | mercury NOTE: This includes their containers as well. |
| According to the US Government, the average | | | | Here is what we can do; |
| household contributes 20 pounds of hazardous waste | | | | Have a special place for old battery collection, set |
| per year. We are so quick to blame "big business" | | | | aside a box to throw away florescent lights, Please |
| and yet when you put it all together an average | | | | don't dump unwanted solvents or cleaners down the |
| neighborhood alone, if that average is correct, (I | | | | drain or into our water supply. Check with your city |
| would guess in our more affluent area, we might be | | | | to see if they provide a place to dispose of |
| adding more than the average) A 500 home | | | | hazardous waste items. In my area, one of the Fire |
| subdivision could possibly be contributing to the | | | | Stations takes these sorts of items certain times |
| hazardous waste arena, approximately 11,000 lbs of | | | | each weekend. |
| hazardous waste into our landfills each year. I would | | | | Electronics need to be handled in totally different |
| make a guess to say, not because we didn't care, | | | | ways. Perhaps your local area has an annual |
| but just because we didn't know that these regular | | | | electronics collection day? Check with your local |
| items are hazardous. | | | | authorities and see what day you need to set aside |
| Most of us certainly would not consider our everyday | | | | so you can rid your home of the old cell phones, |
| trash "hazardous", however, if you happen to throw | | | | VCR's, TV's, Printers, Computers, etc. None of these |
| away household batteries, or light-bulbs into the | | | | things should be put into the regular garbage |
| trash, you've added to the hazardous waste "toxic | | | | collection. Local governments want us to collect |
| brew" of chemicals that are leaching into our soil, and | | | | these sorts of items so they can be disposed of |
| ultimately into our water supply. | | | | properly. |
| Here is a list of what is considered Hazardous: | | | | In the mean time, make it a family project to collect |
| Oil based paints, paint thinners, herbicides, | | | | all hazardous waste and dispose of them properly. |
| Insecticides, Pesticides, Old Gasoline, Pool Chemicals, | | | | "Let's all Give a Hoot and Don't Pollute" Do the right |
| Household Cleaning Products, Household batteries, | | | | thing for our Planet. Our Children's future depends on |
| mercury, used motor oil, Drain Cleaners, Lawn | | | | the decisions we make today. |
| chemicals, Solvents, Anti-freeze, hobby chemicals, | | | | |