By getting rid of hazardous materials such as cleaning solutions, air fresheners, and even dryer sheets, we can reduce the risk of our family members developing serious health problems. Many of the products most commonly used in our homes are made from toxic chemicals that can be terribly harmful to children and adults alike.

The proper disposal of household hazardous wastes is practiced in every community so you have to learn how to spot the signs of these hazardous waste and toss them properly. Even if your house seems to be clear from any toxic substances, it is still important to dispose of them properly in order for your family and the environment to be safe.

There are many items that are commonly disposed of improperly. Some are hazardous, some prohibited, and others just expensive to recycle. At the very least, you should make it a habit to investigate the restrictions on items before disposing of them.

What are the potentially hazardous products in your home?

There are several products and consumer items that may be considered as household waste; these include, but are not limited to, fluorescent lamps and tubes, CFLs, hard plastic packaging materials, broken thermometers, mercury thermometers etc. These products may release hazardous substances into the environment when thrown in your dumpster bin. You can safely dispose of these products by collecting them separately and submitting them to your nearest hazardous waste collection facilities or participating stores. You can also contact your local government or municipality for details on how you can properly dispose of hazardous waste in your area.

Garage and car care items:

• Car batteries
• Antifreeze
• Motor oil
• Brake fluid
• Car tires

Backyard and gardening products:

• Fertilizers
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Lawn and pool chemicals

Household, personal, and cleaning items:

• Aerosol cans
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Non-alkaline batteries, including AA, AAA, and button batteries
• Mercury thermometers
• Chlorine bleach
• Drain and toilet cleaners
• Spot removers
• Mothballs
• Old propane tanks
• kerosene
• Prescription drugs

Electrical and miscellaneous items:

• Electrical switches and relays
• Electronic devices, including TVs, computers, and microwave ovens
• Paint and paint remover or thinner
• Flea collars and sprays
• Older thermostats that contain mercury

Most importantly, remember not to do the following:

1). Mixing hazardous waste and garbage is a bad idea. Regardless of what you do with your hazardous waste, make sure you don’t mix it with garbage. Doing so can get you in serious legal trouble.
When it comes to disposing of harmful liquids, neutralize them and turn them into solid material that you are supposed to dispose off with your garbage. While not every household will have large amounts of liquid hazardous waste, remember that any amount can cause harm to a larger scale.

2). Don’t burn your household waste! When you burn household waste, especially in a stove or fireplace, you release harmful substances that pollute our air and water. Plus, burning things is bad for the environment. It produces a large amount of carbon dioxide. And while this sounds like it’s a terrible thing, it actually traps heat in our atmosphere and keeps our planet warm.

When disposing of hazardous waste, please:

1). Don’t forget to empty the bottles of your medicines when you’re throwing them out. There’s nothing worse than a partially-full bottle of medicine going off in the trash.

2). Find the nearest Hazardous Waste disposal program to assist you in disposing of the items that you don’t need any more, or are dangerous and considered a hazard.

3). Recycling facilities are becoming increasingly popular and widely available. If you’re wondering whether your items can be recycled, or just need to locate a recycling facility in your area.

Proper hazardous waste disposal

Don’t throw your household hazardous waste into trash cans because you could be breaking the law. This can make our community and the environment vulnerable to poisons, toxins, and other chemicals.

Let our expert staff help you rent a dumpster for construction debris or for recycling your goods, we have both small and large dumpsters available. We also help educate our customers about sorting all potentially harmful substances so you can feel confident using our service.