Who knew that a seemingly harmless household mothball is actually considered a hazardous material? Have you ever stopped to think about the ingredients in the cleaners, sprays, polishes, paints, and auto fluids that we use on a daily basis? Chances are, you will be surprised to find that many everyday household items are considered hazardous and require a proper disposal method (and that doesn't mean throwing these items in your garbage can).
Even the compact fluorescent light bulbs that many of us are using these days contain mercury, which requires proper disposal. Read the packaging (and the fine print on the bulb) carefully; if it contains mercury, it will be labeled aas such. Fluorescent bulbs, batteries from calculators, watches, hearing aids, rechargeable NiCad batteries, thermostats, and thermometers normally all contain mercury and require proper disposal. By the way, standard alkaline batteries are not considered hazardous and can be thrown into your regular trash. Read on to find out how to properly dispose of hazardous waste.
Before purchasing bulbs, cleaners, sprays, paints, and thermometers, be sure to check the label - if it is considered hazardous, it could end up costing you more to dispose of it than it did to buy it in the first place. Weigh the pros and cons of purchasing that item, and consider non-toxic alternatives for cleaning supplies, insect killers and animal detractors, and if possible, opt for latex paint rather than oil-based. If you purchase an air conditioner, consider how you will dispose of it appropriately when that time comes because, after all, it does contain Freon. If you must purchase a hazardous material, one way you can save money on disposal fees is to take part in your spring and fall Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events. Each town hosts two of these events each year, at which disposal of hazardous waste is free to residents. Contact your Town Office for details.
Another major contributor to our landfills is the sheer quantity of electronics that we have come to know and love, known as E-Waste. Who doesn't have an old bulky computer, microwave, or cell phone lying around that they don't know what to do with? With the changes in technology today, electronics equipment quickly becomes obsolete and we should recycle this equipment rather than simply sending it to our landfills. Some towns now offer free E-Waste, scrap metal, and Freon item disposal for residents at HHW collection events.
Is your garage filled with half-empty cans of paint? Latex paint is considered hazardous in its liquid state, but when allowed to dry to a solid, it becomes non-hazardous and can be disposed of in your regular trash. Oil and lead-based paint are considered hazardous. Used motor oil is accepted daily at most transfer stations, and used automotive batteries are accepted at most auto parts stores.
What about medical household needles, such as for a diabetic, and other "sharps"? Store them in a heavy duty plastic container, such as a Tide bottle, put the cap on the bottle, and throw it away in your regular trash. Be sure sharp items are separately contained within your garbage bag so as not to rip through the bag and cut your solid waste handler.
If you still are not sure if a particular material is hazardous, check the label for words like Warning, Danger, Poison, or Caution, and be proactive in non-hazardous purchasing decisions. Please do your part to make our environment safer, cleaner, and healthier!
Lissa works for the Bennington County Regional Commission. She rides a motorcycle in the warmer months to conserve fuel and have fun.
This column appeared in the Bennington Banner in January 2007, as one of the BCCD's Conservation Currents pieces, a bi-weekly feature written by BCCD board and staff members since August 2006.