When you think of hazardous waste, you might envision a barrel filled with a toxic sludge or individuals and chemical suits removing substances with equipment, but the truth is most households and businesses have versions of hazardous materials.
Understanding what kinds of common household materials are considered dangerous and knowing how to dispose of them will bring you one step closer to environmental sustainability so here is more information.
Common Household Hazardous Waste
One of the first things you can do is educate yourself on what is considered hazardous waste to find alternatives so you can avoid needing specialized disposal.
Because there are always risks involved with these products, you want to make sure that you refrain from placing them in the standard garbage and, at the same time, not from pouring them down the drain.
Not disposing of them properly can lead to various forms of pollution that can contaminate the environment and pose larger risks for everyone involved in the waste processing system.
Refrigerators
In most situations, a standard garbage disposal service will not pick up the refrigerator even if you leave it by the curb.
But, there are a few ways to dispose of one:
● Call junk removal.
● Bring it to an appliance recycling program.
● Contact an appliance dealer.
● Donate to a local technical college.
Printer Cartridges
The toner and ink used in the cartridges are hazardous because the chemicals used can disrupt hormonal activity and are dangerous to the environment.
In addition to this, the plastic they are manufactured with may also have chemicals that are dangerous to humans, so here are a few ways to dispose of them:
● Return the cartridges to a retailer after they are empty.
● Return them to the manufacturer.
● Reuse them and have them refilled.
● Find a local recycling program.
TVs and Monitors
In most cases, televisions and monitors will be made from heavy metals that are considered toxic. With substances such as mercury and lead, it makes it more challenging to recycle and more costly depending on the age of the TV.
Here are a few ways a TV or monitor can be reused and recycled from your home:
● See if the manufacturer will take it.
● Sell it if it's not too old and still working.
● Donate it to a charity or school for educational purposes.
● Find an electronics recycling facility.
Batteries
Batteries are a common item found in homes, and they cannot go into garbage or recycling containers. They can contain anything from mercury to silver, which means they threaten the natural environment and people.
A few suggestions for disposal are:
● Find a designated facility that recycles them.
● If they are rechargeable, take them to a recycling facility.
● Donate any lithium-ion batteries.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Bulbs considered hazardous waste are compact fluorescent bulbs, light-emitting diode bulbs (LED), and high-intensity discharge bulbs (HID).
These are not appropriate for trash or recycling, so here are some options to dispose of them:
● Find recycling centers that will accept them.
● Speak with a local sanitation department for hazardous waste drop off sites.
Paints
Paints are considered hazardous waste due to two different pigments and fortifiers that they can contain.
Because they are flammable, they cannot be placed in the garbage, so here are some other disposal methods to be utilized:
● If the paint is still usable, choose to donate it.
● Check with local officials for appropriate drop off center locations.
Cleaners
Any chemical or product you use in your home that can cause a threat to the environment, or the health of living things is considered hazardous. These items cannot be poured down the drain, and you want to avoid combining them with other products.
Cleaning products such as drain cleaner, furniture Polish, glass cleaners, and many others can fall into this category, so you want to be aware of what you have in your home.
Here are a few of the safest disposal methods you can use for these products:
● Give the item away if there's some leftover.
● Read the label for disposal methods.
● Bring them to a local hazardous waste collection center.
What Steps Can You Take?
● Read labels to make sure that you follow any specific instructions for storage and use.
● Avoid storing products in anything other than their original containers.
● Do not mix hazardous materials with other products because this can lead to them not only being unrecyclable but potential reactions.
● If you are unsure of what to do with the product, check with a local environmental agency to understand what you have available in your area to utilize for disposal.
LJP: Waste Solutions to Help Create a Better System
Being eco-friendly starts with the individuals' choices when they are purchasing products. Reading labels and looking for companies that offer sustainable packaging are great places to get started because it reduces the amount of waste and hazardous materials being used in your home or office. LJP Waste Solutions aims to create zero landfill companies through methods utilizing sustainability practices.
We work hard with all our clients to create sustainable solutions that are streamlined to their needs, so if you would like to make an appointment contact us or give us a call at 507-625-1968 today.