| Household hazardous waste is the term used for any | | | | items in a separate trash bag, and drive them to |
| goods or materials that is discarded from a home or | | | | your neighborhood's trash drop-off location if possible. |
| a similar source that contains: | | | | The longer these substances stay in your house, the |
| 1. Chemicals that may evaporate into the air and | | | | more they could irritate the nervous or respiratory |
| become ignitable: are capable of burning or of causing | | | | systems, or get dropped or spilt. We hardly need to |
| a fire | | | | say that the storage of these materials in our homes |
| 2. Corrosive chemicals which capable of reacting with | | | | is especially dangerous if small children live in the |
| and dissolving goods or materials and injuring living | | | | house. |
| tissue when in contact | | | | If you have leftover paint or cleaning solutions that |
| 3. Chemicals that may be explosive and/or Reactive: | | | | you need to dispose of, you should never pour it |
| capable of causing an explosion or releasing poisonous | | | | down the drain or into a storm sewer. This may |
| fumes when exposed to air, water or other | | | | seem to some like a better method than throwing |
| chemicals | | | | the items in the household trash. But, introducing |
| 4. Toxic Substances which are poisonous, either | | | | these poison substances to the local surface water |
| immediately or become so over a prolonged time | | | | drainage system will have negative consequences |
| period. | | | | when the flow discharges into streams, rivers, ponds |
| 5. Radioactive materials capable of damaging and | | | | and lakes, where the fish will be easily killed. |
| destroying cells and cell genetic development. | | | | Household Hazardous Wastes require special attention |
| When you think of this list dangerous and toxic | | | | during handling, storage, collection, transportation, |
| wastes, we generally think of the pollution that | | | | treatment and disposal. Your neighborhood may have |
| factories produce that are mostly what is harmful to | | | | already provided instructions for getting rid of |
| the environment. But all of the above categories of | | | | household hazardous waste, so be sure to ask your |
| household hazardous waste products that we have | | | | local council about this if you have not received the |
| listed above are in use every day in many homes and | | | | relevant information. |
| could damage our health if not handled and disposed | | | | Another great way to make sure that your home is |
| correctly. | | | | not contaminated by household hazardous waste is |
| For instance, if you have just finished a home | | | | to purchase cleaning products that are all-natural. |
| improvement project, and leave certain items like | | | | Many times, the synthetic cleansers in bathroom and |
| paint or glue around for a long period of time, the | | | | tile sprays, laundry detergents, and paints and |
| fumes could irritate your nasal passages, and could | | | | finishing solutions can harm the environment quickly, |
| even cause skin irritation and breathing problems. | | | | and make children and adults very sick. If you're using |
| Even things like furniture cleaners, cooking oils, or | | | | products that contain natural plant and flower oils, it is |
| garden pesticides can be considered household | | | | less likely that you will experience red eyes, skin |
| hazardous waste, and you do need to be very | | | | rashes, or shortness of breath while cleaning or |
| careful when you are disposing of these items. | | | | disposing of cleaning materials. Brands like Seventh |
| Used syringes are a form of household hazardous | | | | Generation and Jason have great natural and organic |
| waste when discarded in the home. Put all used | | | | household cleaners that you may want to try. |
| syringes and needles in a tightly sealed and labelled | | | | For more information on how you can eliminate the |
| container and take them to a Household Hazardous | | | | exposure of household hazardous waste in your |
| Waste depot. (We recommend that you phone your | | | | home and in your neighborhood, visit your local |
| local authority to check that each of your wastes | | | | authority and the US Environmental Protection |
| can be accepted before you go to the recycling | | | | Agency (EPA) web site (US residents), or the |
| centre.) | | | | Environment Agency (EA) UK web site to find out |
| It is probably a good idea to place the discarded | | | | about disposal regulations which apply in your area. |