HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION INFORMATION
What is Household Hazardous Waste and how do we recognize this waste stream? Information was taken from the Waste Management Div. of VT. DEC.
Household Hazardous Waste is common household products that exhibit the characteristics of hazardous waste. As a result these products may be harmful to human and or the environment. Many of these products are very common and are usually purchased from local hardware, automotive, and grocery stores. These products can be used and found in our house, in our garages, on our lawns and in our gardens.
Because these products are so common and easy to purchase, many people forget that these products can be extremely harmful to their health or the environment.
For example, common household products like toilet bowl and oven cleaners can potentially cause burns, blindness, nausea, and shortness of breath.
Automotive products such as gasoline, oil, and antifreeze can be extremely harmful to the environment. According to the EPA, just one gallon of used oil can pollute one million gallons of drinking water. Used oil that ends up in Vermont's waterways can threaten aquatic life. Antifreeze can be extremely toxic to children and pets, potentially causing liver and brain damage, and cardiac failure.
Lawn and garden products such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers can be washed off lawns and gardens by the rain, and ultimately end up in water supplies and surface waters. These products can kill fish, non-target insects, and can bioaccumulate in the environment causing harm to animals. One infamous example is the pesticide DDT causing major health problems in birds of prey.
How Do I Know if a Product is Hazardous?
Products that contain potential harmful ingredients are required to provide a label that informs you why the product is hazardous, the harm it could cause to humans, ways to avoid exposure, and the necessary first aid procedures in the event of an accidental exposure.
Reading the label thoroughly and closely following the instructions for use may prevent an exposure situation. The label will provide information on safety gear for the application. It will also provide instructions on choosing the best conditions for use. Included on this label will be a combination of a product's Hazardous characteristics, and Key signal words to alert the user of potential dangers.
Hazardous Characteristics
The hazardous characteristics are toxic, corrosive, reactive, explosive, and flammable / ignitable.
Toxic means that it is potentially poisonous if eaten, breathed, or absorbed through the skin. Examples include pesticides and antifreeze. Corrosive means that it can burn or destroy other materials including living tissue. Examples include toilet bowl cleaner and Photographic fixer solution.
