HAZARDOUS WASTE IN OUR HOMES Protect yourself Protect your environment Prepared by Marilyn Rausch Indiana 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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

THE AVERAGE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD CONTAINS AN EXTIMATED 50 TO 100 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

Approximately 1.6 million tons of hazardous waste Is generated every year in the United States. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE HOME Medicines, “sharps” Nail polish Furniture polish Silver polish Shoe polish Batteries Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE HOME HOBBY PRODUCTS: potentially toxic, explosive, and corrosive Artist and model paint Firearm cleaning solvent Photographic chemicals Solvent based Glue Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE YARD Pool and Spa Chemicals Disinfectants and pH balancing chemicals. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

What should be done with Hazardous Household Waste? Reduce the Use Reuse Recycle Store properly Dispose of properly Indiana 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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

SAFER ALTERNATIVES FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES See the handouts for safer alternatives for many household hazardous products Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

STORE PROPERLY Never store gasoline or other fuels indoors. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

DISPOSE OF PROPERLY Follow label instructions. Wear gloves and protect your clothing when handling hazardous waste. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

DISPOSE OF PROPERLY NEVER burn or dump hazardous wastes on the ground. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

DISPOSE OF PROPERLY Avoid burying any containers or leftover chemicals. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 PROPERLY If 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. Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

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 Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

DISPOSE OF PROPERLY AUTO BATTERIES SHOULD NEVER BE PUT IN THE HOME’S GARBAGE Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

LandfillDiscard with household refuse. RecycleRecycle using proper procedures HWWSave for a Household Hazardous Waste Collection FlushFlush SMALL AMOUNTS only in inside drain only. (pour acid INTO water) Flush 1Flush with large quantities of water in inside drain only (pour acid INTO water.) Flush 2Pour water into product (not product into water). DO NOT MIX ACIDS AND BASES (I.e.ammonia and bleach) RECYCLE AND REUSE CHART DESCRIPTION Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program

ITEMOPT 1 OPT 2 SPECIAL INSTRUCTION AcidFlush 1Protect face, wear eye protection Aerosol cans, emptyLandfillRecycle if available for steel. Ammonia, ammonia based products Flush 2DO NOT MIX WITH BLEACH- BASED PRODUCTS AmmunitionCall local law enforcement agency AntifreezeRecycleFlush 1As generated only Artist paints/solventsHHW Explanation of HHW chart See chart in the handouts… Indiana State Association FCRV Disaster Awareness Program