Responsible Rubbish
Fact
Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic or ignitable ingredients are considered to be “household hazardous waste (HHW),” and require special disposal. Included in this category are paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides. When these are simply poured down the drain or tossed in the trash, they can pollute both the environment and our drinking water.
According to the Clean Water Fund, the average American uses 40 pounds of toxic cleaning products, throwing away 12 percent of their leftovers in landfills and pouring a total of 32 million pounds down the drain.
Get Started
- Never mix leftover cleaning products. Not only could they ignite or explode, but contaminated products might become unrecyclable.
- Be a smart shopper. Do not buy more than you can use, especially when purchasing paint. Carefully measure the area you will be painting and check with store personnel about the amount you are buying.
- Consider using alternative methods for cleaning your home. Try vinegar for scrubbing the toilet, sink and tub rather than a bathroom cleaner that contains highly toxic chemicals. A mix of baking soda, salt and water also serve as a great carpet cleaner. Additional alternative cleaning “recipes” can be found online.
Become a Pro
- Most communities have special HHW collection days throughout the year. Find the dates and mark them on your calendar so you can prepare in advance. Get your family involved and designate an area in the home where products waiting to be recycled can be collected.
- Inform neighbors about upcoming HHW collection events and haul one big carload for your block instead of everyone making their own separate trips.
- Support companies that create natural cleaning products. Many of these work just as well as those packed with chemicals.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Jane Meeks
posted on January 27th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Thank you for sharing the importance of properly disposing of your HHW. The Berks County Solid Waste Authority holds a spring and fall collection for these materials each year. Please direct your readers to our website for additional information.
mary tanner
posted on January 27th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I understand the savings on using compact florescent lighting. I am concerned about the mercury in the landfill as a result of disposing of these light bulbs. Is there an alternative way to dispose of these items. They are, as I’m concerned, a hazard in our invironment. as well as the long florescent lighting. Please advise… thank you for all you do in this effort of protecting the earth.. Mary
Kat
posted on July 29th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Mary,
Some Household Hazardous Waste collection events or HHW facilities in your area may accept compact fluorescent light bulbs for proper recycling and disposal. Some stores, such as Home Depot, may also accept used CFLs (as they are also known). Call your local HHW facility or Home Depot for more information. And yes, it’s important to keep any mercury containing materials out of our landfills or incinerators!
Helder
posted on February 10th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
All Home Depot locations nationwide accept CFL lamps for recycling. There is usually a waist- or chest-high orange box near the entrance, exit or in the customer service/returns area. It’s a do-it-yourself process and completely free. I believe IKEA also accepts CFLs, but those are few and far between in most of the country.
Good luck!
Joseph
posted on February 23rd, 2011 at 4:41 am
What is sad is that The Portage County Solid Waste District doesn’t carry a HHW program like they used to. The Geauga-Trumbull Hazardous Household Waste and Summit County Hazardous Household Waste both hold programs during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.