hazardous waste in our homes protect yourself protect your environment prepared by marilyn rausch...

HAZARDOUS WASTE IN OUR HOMES

Protect yourself

Protect your environment

Prepared by Marilyn RauschIndiana State Association FCRV DAT Program 2006

Where can you find Household Hazardous Waste?

• Kitchen Cabinets• Cleaning Closets• Garages• Backyard Sheds• Bathroom shelves

Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

What makes materials hazardous?

Contain ingredients that, when used or disposed of incorrectly, threaten

Health

Surface Water

Ground Water

Rest of environment


Household hazardous waste is

TOXIC

(poisonous or cancer causing)

FLAMMABLE or IGNITABLE

(burns or ignites easily)

CORROSIVE

(eats through materials)

REACTIVE

(can explode)Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

How do I Know?

READ THE LABEL• “Wear Gloves”: corrosive or skin-toxic.• “Do not store near heat or open flame”:

Ignitable.• “Do not store near…”: reactive qualities.• “Use in only well-ventilated room”: toxic

fumes and reactivity.


THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD CONTAINS AN

EXTIMATED

50 TO 100 POUNDS

OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE.


Approximately

1.6 million tons of hazardous waste

Is generated every year in the United States.


Dangers within the home• Chemicals can be corrosive to the eyes,

skin, mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach.

• Toxic Fumes can cause respiratory injury and death.

• Improper storage may increase the risk of accidental injuries or explosions


Dangers outside of the home

• Products poured into sinks contribute to pollution in lakes and streams.

• Discarded hazardous materials pose serious threats to air, land, surface water, and groundwater.

• These same materials pose health risk to sanitation workers


EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE HOME

Household cleaners can be toxic, corrosive & flammable.

• Abrasive cleansers, scouring powders• Ammonia or chlorine based cleaners• Disinfectants• Drain, glass, and oven cleaners.• Aerosol spray cans• Rug and upholstery cleaners.



• Medicines, “sharps”• Nail polish• Furniture polish• Silver polish• Shoe polish• Batteries



HOBBY PRODUCTS: potentially toxic, explosive, and corrosive

• Artist and model paint• Firearm cleaning solvent• Photographic chemicals• Solvent based Glue


EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE GARAGE

PAINT PRODUCTS: toxic and flammable.

• Enamel or oil-based paint• Latex or water-based paint• Furniture or paint-stripper• Stain, varnish• Thinners, solvents, turpentine


EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE GARAGE

AUTOMATIVE PRODUCTS: toxic, corrosive, flammable:• Anti-freeze• Motor oil• Auto and motorcycle batteries• Car wax• Engine cleaner and degreaser• Gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene• Transmission fluid• Auto paint and primer.


EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE YARD

PESTICIDE AND GARDEN PRODUCTS: toxic and flammable

• Chemical fertilizer, herbicides or weed killers• Fungicides• Insecticide or bug killers• Flea collars, sprays, bombs• Rodent poisons• Roach and ant killers, snail and slug bait


EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE YARD

• Pool and Spa Chemicals• Disinfectants and pH balancing chemicals.


What should be done with Hazardous Household Waste?

• Reduce the Use

• Reuse

• Recycle

• Store properly

• Dispose of properlyIndiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

REDUCE THE USE

Select the least toxic item to “do the job”

• Buy only the minimum amounts necessary.

• Avoid household products marked “danger.”

• Choose water-based products.


SAFER ALTERNATIVES FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS

WASTES

See the handouts for safer alternatives for many household

hazardous products


REUSE

• Attempt to use all of any hazardous material.

• Some solvents and cleaners may be reused– Keep in original containers with original labels.– Corrosives should be stored in a covered glass jar.

• If “leftovers” aren’t needed, perhaps a neighbor, friend or community organization such as Habitat for Humanity may be able to use the product.


RECYCLE

• Motor oil and Fuel oils are often collected by service stations for filtering and reuse.

• Batteries, especially those with nickel cadmium, lithium or lead are recyclable.

• TO FIND WHERE TO RECYCLE OR DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE, CHECK www.earth911.org.


STORE PROPERLY

• NEVER store hazardous products in food containers.

• NEVER store hazardous products in same area as food.

• Keep products in their original containers and never remove the labels.


STORE PROPERLY

Corroding containers require special handling.

Contents may leak out, leading to contact, respiratory, or fire/explosion hazards.

Call your local hazardous-material official or fire department for instructions.


STORE PROPERLY

• Store all products out of reach of children and pets.

• Lock poisons and medicines out of reach of small children.

• Return hazardous household products to their safe storage immediately after use.


STORE PROPERLY

• Never mix different household chemicals. (mixing chlorine bleach and ammonia or vinegar can cause deadly fumes.)

• Never smoke or eat when handling hazardous materials.


STORE PROPERLY

• Store all hazardous products out of the sun and away from heat, sparks, and flames (including pilot lights).

• Keep containers from rusting (avoid storing in damp areas.

• Keep products from freezing (an exception: flammable or combustible products may be stored in an unheated garage.


STORE PROPERLY

Never store gasoline or other fuels indoors.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

• Follow label instructions.

• Wear gloves and protect your clothing when handling hazardous waste.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

• Remember that an “EMPTY” container may not be totally empty.

• Residual amounts of the chemicals may remain inside the container.

• Fumes can accumulate, creating possible danger.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

NEVER burn or dump hazardous wastes on the ground.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

Do not dispose of any hazardous material “down the sink” unless you are sure it can be safely disposed into the sewer system.

This does NOT apply to a septic tank. Do not pour any hazardous waste into a septic system.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

Avoid burying any containers or leftover chemicals.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY If a container is deteriorating, place

the entire container in a plastic bucket.

Surround it with a nonflammable absorbent such as kitty litter, vermiculite, or “floor dry” to

absorb the material. Label the outside of the container.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

SOLIDIFY ANY LIQUID WASTES

• Use absorbent material (kitty litter, sawdust, vermiculite, paper towels, rags) to soak up a liquid hazardous material.

• Do not solidify more than one chemical at a time.• Use gloves. Sweep or dispose of materials into a

plastic bag.• Dispose of appropriately.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

Latex paint can be solidified by exposing the paint to air.

Once dried, the paint and container can be wrapped in several layers of newspaper and disposed of in

household refuse.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

• If possible, open a non-aerosol container with wire cutters or scissors and air-dry.

• Wear gloves to swab the inside before disposal.

• Dispose rags or paper towels after they have been aired and dried out of doors.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

For empty aerosol cans, turn the container upside-down and depress spray button with

the nozzle facing paper toweling, rags or other absorbent surface.

When the pressure is gone, wrap the can in newspaper and dispose of with household

refuse.Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

DISPOSE OF PROPERLYIf you are on a sewer system:• Cleansers designed to be used with water

in the home are drain disposable. – Drain with a lot of water– Rinse the container and allow it to dry– Wrap container in newspaper and dispose in

household refuse.

• Antifreeze can be flushed down the toilet.


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

Some items should NEVER be flushed into a water system, disposed of on the ground or put into household refuse:

• Pesticides• Herbicides• Oil paints

• Paint cleaners• Oil

• Transmission fluids


DISPOSE OF PROPERLY

AUTO BATTERIES SHOULD NEVER BE PUT IN THE

HOME’S GARBAGE


Landfill Discard with household refuse.

Recycle Recycle using proper procedures

HWW Save for a Household Hazardous Waste Collection

Flush Flush SMALL AMOUNTS only in inside drain only. (pour acid INTO water)

Flush 1 Flush with large quantities of water in inside drain only (pour acid INTO water.)

Flush 2 Pour water into product (not product into water). DO NOT MIX ACIDS AND BASES (I.e.ammonia and bleach)

RECYCLE AND REUSE CHART DESCRIPTION


ITEM OPT 1

OPT 2

SPECIAL INSTRUCTION

Acid Flush 1 Protect face, wear eye protection

Aerosol cans, empty Landfill Recycle if available for steel.

Ammonia, ammonia based products

Flush 2 DO NOT MIX WITH BLEACH-BASED PRODUCTS

Ammunition Call local law enforcement agency

Antifreeze Recycle Flush 1 As generated only

Artist paints/solvents HHW

Explanation of HHW chart

See chart in the handouts…


hazardous waste in our homes protect yourself protect your environment prepared by marilyn rausch...

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