Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) are leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, pesticides etc. HHW contain potentially hazardous ingredients and require special care and safe disposal.
A typical home can contain a vast array of household hazardous wastes used for cleaning, painting, beautifying, lubricating and disinfecting the house, yard, workshop and garage. The chemical-based household products from a single home may seem insignificant; but, when millions of homes use similar products, handling, storing and disposing them improperly may have the combined impact and becomes a major problem.
The health and safety of our families, neighborhoods and environment is threatened when household hazardous waste is stored or disposed of improperly. These products should not be put in the garbage bins or disposed in the storm drains or burned, as they pose a threat to human health and the environment. Thousands of consumer products are hazardous. The general categories are:
- Automotive products: Gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, car wax and cleaners, lead-acid batteries, brake fluid, transmission fluid etc.
- Home improvement products: Paint, varnish, stain, paint thinner, paint stripper, caulk, adhesives etc.
- Pesticides: Insecticide and insect repellent, weed killer, rat and mouse poison, pet spray and dip, wood preservative etc.
- Household cleaners: Furniture polish and wax, drain opener, oven cleaner, tub and tile cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, spot remover, bleach, ammonia etc.
- Other: Household batteries, cosmetics, pool chemicals, shoe polish, lighter fluid, prescription medicines etc.
Each year, thousands of people are injured by exposure or accident involving hazardous household products. Because of the dangers they pose. These products require special awareness, handling, and disposal. In order to protect health and environment, every consumer should know how to properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous household products.
Many common household products contain hazardous chemicals. Once released into the environment, these substances may pose a serious threat to living organisms. Small quantities of hazardous substances can accumulate over time to reach dangerous levels and contaminate the air, water, and soil.
Here are some basic guidelines for managing household hazardous wastes:
- Select the least toxic item and buying only the minimum quantity as required.
- Read the entire label carefully for health warnings and use good judgment when choosing any product.
- Store the product at a safe place and away from the children reach.
- Avoid aerosol products.
- Always use hazardous products in a well-ventilated area.
- Never leave containers open. Many products are volatile, evaporating quickly into the air.
- Always seal containers tightly after use.
- Never mix chemicals and hazardous products.
- Do not use spent chemical containers for other purposes.
- Wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask when dealing with any hazardous material.
- Wash clothing exposed to hazardous materials separately from other clothes.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while using hazardous products.
- Clean up the place after using hazardous products. Carefully seal products and properly refasten all caps.
- Never put hazardous products in food or beverage containers.
- Keep products away from sources of heat, spark, flame or ignition.
- Know where flammable materials are located in your home and how to extinguish them.
- Keep a multi-purpose dry chemical fire extinguisher in your home.
