How to Properly Dispose of Hazardous Products

The following is the fourth part in an Earth 911 week-long series on household hazardous waste.

Part 1 – What Makes Things Hazardous?
Part 2 – How to Monitor Hazardous Products
Part 3 – How to Store Hazardous Products
Part 4 – How to Properly Dispose of HHW

First and foremost, you should try to reduce the amount of household hazardous waste you use. Ask yourself if it is really necessary to buy that fancy schmancy cleaner, or if it’s probably just an impulse buy brought on by the promise of mountain-fresh smelling furniture.

If possible, nip the need to dispose of HHW in the bud. For many hazardous products, you can find a safer alternative. For example, did you know rosemary can be used as a non-hazardous alternative to mothballs? Check out the U.S. EPA’s list of other alternatives.

If you do find yourself with leftover HHW, check with your neighbors or friends to see if they could use it. And while you’re at it, see if they have any leftover products you might be able to use! If your neighbors and friends don’t need your HHW, check with local businesses. For example, if you have excess pesticide, see if your neighborhood greenhouse could benefit from your leftovers. Make sure your leftover pesticides have not been banned, however, as those should not be used nor shared. Some communities arrange HHW exchanges where these types of products can be swapped or simply given away. Exchanging HHW or giving your leftovers to others is a good way to make the most of the product and of your money.

While some states have special requirements, federal law allows you to throw out HHW in the trash, but why even put the environment and other people in that sort of danger? Some people think it’s okay to dispose of HHW in the trash or pour excess down the drain, on the ground or into storm sewers, but while you may not see any immediate consequences, these methods of disposal can actually be very harmful. According to the U.S. EPA, “certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers; contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets; and present hazards to children and pets if left around the house.” Are all those possible consequences really worth it when you can just type the product into the Earth 911 locator and find an HHW collection site nearby? It’s not likely.

Check with your local or state solid waste officials to find out more about HHW regulations in your area.

Many states have either HHW collection days or permanent sites where HHW is collected on a regular basis. According to the U.S. EPA, “in 1997, there were more than 3,000 HHW permanent programs and collection events throughout the United States.”

For recycling/collection options, type in the product and your zip code into the recycle locator at the top of this page, and click “Go.”

Sources:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/househld/hhw.htm

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/househld/hhw/Intro.pdf

http://www.healthgoods.com/Education/Healthy_Home_Information/Home_Health_Hazards/household_hazardous_products.htm

http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/products/

http://extension.missouri.edu/owm/hhw.htm

http://www.epa.gov/msw/hhw-list.htm