How to Protect Your Family From Household Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is usually any product that has a label with the words poison, danger, warning or caution. Often times these types of waste are stored away in our garages or basements where they just take up room. It is important to properly deal with household hazardous waste, because a hazardous waste product is toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive. Do you want these dangerous items lying around your house? Read on to learn how to protect your family from household hazardous waste.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Phone book

1. Contact local recycling and waste management organizations to find out if annual household hazardous waste collection days are held in your area. They may accept items such as non-latex paint, herbicides, aerosol cans, photo chemicals, asbestos, medicines, gasoline and more.
2. Some organizations no longer accept latex paint, but it can still be disposed of properly. To dispose of latex paint, use cat litter or sand to dry up the unused paint. Then replace the lid and put it in your trash.
3. If you have paint cans that are 1/3 full that can be reused, contact local schools and colleges to see if they can find a use for them.
4. Non-hazardous, reusable items such as Styrofoam egg cartons and peanuts, art supplies and other craft supplies can be saved to give to schools as well as nonprofit agencies that can put them to use. This is a more resourceful way to deal with these items instead of sending them to a landfill.
5. In order to minimize household hazardous waste, limit the amount of hazardous waste products you purchase and check your supply at home so you do not purchase an item you already own.
6. At the very least, protect your family and others by putting these items in a contained area out of reach and place “Poison Help” Mr. Yuk stickers on these dangerous products too. Contact a poison control center to get stickers mailed to you.

Tips & Warnings

• Recycling household hazardous waste helps protect the environment as well as your family.
• Contact your local waste management center if you have any questions or concerns.
• No one’s home should be a breeding ground for potential accidents.