189 lines
9.0 KiB
Plaintext
189 lines
9.0 KiB
Plaintext
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This is a FAST ACCESS VERSION of a RUTGERS COOPERATIVE
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EXTENSION FACT SHEET. Because of the mode of transmission it
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is possible that certain graphics intended to be included with
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the original FACT SHEET have been deleted. You can obtain the
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complete FACT SHEET from any county office of RUTGERS
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COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.
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HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN YOUR HOME:
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PROPER USE AND DISPOSAL
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Theodore B. Shelton, Ph.D.
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Specialist in Water Resources Management
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Michael T. Olohan
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Public Information Coordinator
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Navesink River Watershed Project
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WHAT IS A HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD PRODUCT?
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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considers a substance hazardous if it can catch fire, if it
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can react or explode when mixed with other substances, if it
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is corrosive, or if it is toxic. Each of these categories is
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explained in its regulations. EPA has designated 400 specific
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substances to be hazardous.
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EPA estimates that the average household contains between
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3 and 10 gallons of hazardous chemicals. Even improper
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disposal of such small amounts of hazardous wastes can make an
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underground water source unusable for decades if the
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contamination is not prevented.
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HOW SHOULD YOU HANDLE HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS?
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Generally, most household products should never be
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disposed of by dumping into a sink, toilet, street drain, or
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roadway. Your household plumbing system usually leads to a
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municipal wastewater treatment plant or a septic tank
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wastewater disposal system. However, neither is designed to
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remove hazardous chemicals completely from wastewater. You
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should also be aware that storm sewers (street drains) usually
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flow directly into nearby streams or rivers without treatment,
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leading to direct pollution of the waterways. Homeowners
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should reduce the purchase of products containing hazardous
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chemicals and consider nontoxic alternatives to prevent
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potential disposal, poisoning, and water pollution problems.
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WHAT DISPOSAL OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE?
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The following list offers advice for using and disposing
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of most hazardous products in your home and, where possible,
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it proposes alternatives. The recommendations listed apply to
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quantities less than 1 quart. Your local health department,
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county health department, or State Department of Environmental
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Protection (NJDEP) Hazardous Waste Advisement Program should
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be consulted for larger quantities. In all cases, proper
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disposal at a local hazardous waste collection center or
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program or recycling, is preferred.
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(T)=TRASH - This symbol identifies products that should never
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be poured down a drain, but can be safely disposed of by
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placing in the garbage. Make sure products are sealed or
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capped to prevent leakage.
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(H)=HOLD - This symbol identifies hazardous products that must
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be held for disposal at a local collection center or program
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or given to a hazardous waste disposal contractor. (Even
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empty containers of these products should be handled in these
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ways.) For more information, contact NJDEP Hazardous Waste
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Advisement Program at 609-292-8341.
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(R)=RECYCLE - This symbol identifies products that can or
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should be recycled. Take these products to the recycling
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program in your area. If no recycling program exists,
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encourage local officials to start one. For more information,
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contact the NJDEP Office of Recycling at 609-292-0331.
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HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
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(H) OVEN, DRAIN, AND TOILET CLEANERS - Most of these
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products are corrosive and poisonous. Follow directions
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carefully, exchange unused portions to neighbors and friends
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to use instead of discarding. An alternative to oven cleaners
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is baking soda and water. Instead of chemical drain cleaners,
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you might use a metal snake to clear pipes. Instead of toilet
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cleaners, use a toilet brush and baking soda or a mild
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detergent.
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(H) FURNITURE POLISH, FLOOR POLISH - Certain brands are
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flammable. Offer unused quantities to friends and neighbors.
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Do not pour down drains. Do not dispose of these substances
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in normal trash.
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(T) OLD MEDICINES - Many products are hazardous. Some
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medicines can be disposed of with regular trash. Contact your
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local health department or New Jersey Department of
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Environmental Protection Hazardous Waste Advisement Program at
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609-292-8341 for more information.
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(T) DISINFECTANTS - These products are usually corrosive
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and toxic. Do not dispose of down drains. Fully use these
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products or recycle unused portions by exchanging them with
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friends or neighbors.
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(H) RUG AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANERS - These products are
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irritants, and are corrosive and toxic. Do not dispose of
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these substances with regular garbage. These products might
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be exchanged with a neighbor.
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(H) BLEACH CLEANERS - Products containing bleach are
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strong oxidizers and are corrosive. Fully use these products
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or exchange them with neighbors or friends. Do not dispose of
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with regular trash.
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GARAGE AND WORKSHOP CHEMICALS
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(H)(R) USED MOTOR OIL, BATTERY ACID, DIESEL FUEL, FUEL
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OIL, GASOLINE, KEROSENE, PAINT BRUSH CLEANER WITH SOLVENT,
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PAINT THINNER, TURPENTINE - These products are toxic,
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flammable, and corrosive. Do not dispose of these substances
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in the sink, toilet, street drain, or roadway. In New Jersey,
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service stations, retail outlets, and reinspection stations
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that sell motor oil must accept up to 5 gallons of used motor
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oil for recycling. Other products should be saved for
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disposal at local collection centers.
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(S) ANTIFREEZE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID, BRAKE
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FLUID, CAR WAX WITH SOLVENT, OTHER OILS, GLUE, OIL-BASED
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PAINT, PAINT STRIPPER, PRIMER, RUST REMOVER, VARNISH, WOOD
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PRESERVATIVE - These products are toxic, corrosive, and/or
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flammable. Do not dispose of these substances in the sink,
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toilet, street drain, or roadway. If possible, exchange or
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save for local collection centers.
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(T)(R) METAL POLISH WITH SOLVENT, PAINT BRUSH CLEANER
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WITH TSP (TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE), WATER-BASED GLUE, LATEX PAINT,
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PAINT STRIPPER (lye base) - These products are toxic.
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Exchange with neighbors. Recycle is possible or seal tightly
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and discard with regular trash.
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CHEMICALS USED OUTDOORS
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(H) PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES, INSECTICIDES, FUNGICIDES -
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Toxic. Pesticide is usually a catch-all term for all types of
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lawn, garden, and agricultural chemicals. Use only according
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to label or recommendations of an agricultural agent in the
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Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in your county.
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Triple-rinse containers and reuse rinse water as a
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full-strength pesticide. Garden pesticide alternatives
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include keeping your garden weed-free by handpulling,
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importing predators, or using insecticidal soap. Consult the
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Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in your county for
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specific agricultural and garden pesticide recommendations.
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(H) POOL CHEMICALS - In addition to being corrosive and
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toxic, these products are strong oxidizers and pose a fire and
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explosive hazard. NEVER DISPOSE of pool chemicals with
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household trash. Store safely until they can be fully used or
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exchanged with neighbors.
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OTHER HAZARDOUS HOME PRODUCTS
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(H)(R) HOBBY CHEMICALS (CRAFTS, PHOTOGRAPHY, LABS) -
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These can be irritants, and are often corrosive, toxic, and
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flammable. Do not dispose of these substances. These
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chemicals should be safely stored in original containers.
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NEVER pour down drains.
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(H) ARTISTS' PAINTS, MEDIUMS, ADHESIVES - These can be
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irritants, and are often toxic and flammable. Work area
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should be well ventilated. Store these containers until they
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can be safely disposed of.
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For more information on hazardous household chemicals:
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1) Household Hazardous Waste: Solving the Disposal Dilemma.
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Gina Purin, Golden Health Empire Health Planning Center, 2100
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21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95818.
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2) Nontoxic and Natural: How to Avoid Dangerous Everyday
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Products and Buy or Make Safe Ones. Debra Lynn Dadd.
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Nontoxic Lifestyles Inc., Box 210019, San Francisco, CA 94121.
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* Information in this reference appears with the understanding
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that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by
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RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION is implied.
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