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Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
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It is often illegal, as well as unsafe, to dispose of hazardous materials improperly. While product labels are the best source of safe disposal methods for a particular substance, a number of more general methods have been proven to be safe and effective. How should you dispose of your household waste? The safest way to get rid of hazardous household products is to use them until they are gone. If this is not possible, give the product (in its original container) to someone who can use it up appropriately and legally. Try to recycle the material if possible. Refer to the product’s label for any directions on disposal. Periodically, Solid Waste Management sponsors household and farm hazardous waste disposal days at various locations around the county. County residents can bring waste materials to these pick-up points for disposal. The news media provides information about these events whenever the Region schedules them. In general, when disposing of hazardous household products, DO NOT: · Pour them into storm sewers · Pour them into septic tanks · Burn chemicals or containers · Mix chemicals together Safe
disposal of some common household hazardous materials Automotive Products Used motor oil, transmission/brake fluid: Recycle – take to area auto center or service station. Batteries: Recycle – take to battery retailer. Antifreeze: Pour amounts of less than 4 gallons down drain or mix with cat box filler or sawdust and discard in trash. Do not pour into septic tanks. Gasoline: Allow small quantities to evaporate outdoors away from children and pets. Battery acid: Add small amounts of water to dilute, mix with baking soda to neutralize, and flush down drain. Pesticides Toxic pesticides: Avoid use of extremely toxic pesticides. If use is unavoidable, never discard by dumping down the drain or on the ground. Deliver unused pesticides to a hazardous waste collection program. Insecticides, herbicides, rodent bait: Use up, follow container disposal instructions, or rinse container three times and use rinse water as a pesticide. Wrap empty container in newspaper, discard with trash. Cleaners Bleach, disinfectant, drain and toilet cleaners: Use up, if possible. If this cannot be done, dilute with large amounts of water and flush down drain. Do not flush into septic tank. Polish and powdered cleaners: Discard in trash. Oven cleaner: Solidify by mixing cat box filler or sawdust; discard in trash. Spot remover: Allow to evaporate outdoors away from children and pets; discard empty container in trash. Paints and solvents Paint and varnish: Use up. If not possible, allow to evaporate outdoors in its original container until solidified, away from children and pets. Discard container in trash if paint contains no heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, chromium, titanium). Deliver paint containing heavy metals to a hazardous waste collection program. Turpentine, thinner, and stripper: Allow paint particles to settle in closed container, then strain off liquid for reuse. Wrap sludge in newspaper and discard in trash. Miscellaneous Photographic chemicals: Flush small amounts of diluted mixed chemicals down drain, or solidify with cat box filler or sawdust and discard in trash. Deliver unmixed chemicals to a hazardous waste collection program. Smoke detectors: Return to the manufacturer. Gas cylinders: Return to the retailer. Old medicines: Flush down the drain.
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