How to Dispose of Hazardous Wastes in Your Home

In Orange County, Florida, we have a Household Hazard Waste Program (HHW) that provides homeowners with opportunities to dispose of their hazardous waste safely and at no charge. There are many households that have dangerous chemicals (hazardous waste) that might be lying around with a small amount leftover in their containers. Many people do not consider the ramifications to our environment if these hazardous wastes are not disposed properly. Not only do these hazardous wastes harm human but also animals. When we bury these hazardous wastes in the ground by pouring them down storm drains, sinks, or toilets you are actually poisoning the groundwater. In Florida, ninety two per cent of Florida's drinking water comes from our groundwater. So in essence, you are poisoning yourself and threatening our wildlife.

Most times it is easy to spot what is considered hazardous waste, especially when it actually says "Hazardous material, Pesticide, Flammable, etc" on the container. However, I believe we take it for granted on some of the things we are using in our day to day cleaning products. Are you aware how much hazardous waste you are actually handling when you clean your house or your car? Even doing your own hair coloring and throwing it in the garbage contributes to the problem. Or what about your old medications, what are you doing with those? Do Not flush them down the toilet! Todays wastewater treatment systems can not remove medications from the water and as a result they poison the environment. They should be sent to the landfill or disposed as a hazardous waste.

Now, you can check with your local government to see if they have a program to dispose of these materials and what they do and do not accept. If you chose to continue with the same hazardous materials, make sure before you dispose you follow these five steps:

1. Label your materials if you know what they are. If you do not know label "unknown" on the container.

2. Do not mix different or unknown materials together in the same container. You shouldn't even do this when you clean. The result could be a nice chemical burn if you have sensitive skin.

3. Make sure you have strong containers and they do not leak. You can always put them in a larger container and pack them with material that will absorb the liquid such as kitty litter.

4. When you are ready to transport the items, stay organized by using boxes with dividers. This will make it easier to hand them over.

5. Best of all, if you have a little left over in the container, just use it up.

You can also use alternatives for cleaning products that are safe for the environment, meaning it will say "biodegradable" on the container. There are environmentally friendly products on the market such as "Seven Generation" or Chlorox 's new product called "Green Works".
I may be referring here to Florida because our groundwater is at a higher elevation compared to other states. However, this really applies to all of us. As common sense as this may seem, sometimes it takes "going back to basics" thinking as a reminder of our obligation to ourselves, our animals and to our fragile environment.

Source: Orange County Government of Florida