HOUSEHOLD hazardous wastes

WHAT ARE THEY EXACTLY?

To put it simply, they are the residues of potentially harmful substances you use in your home. Hazardous wastes usually have one or more of the following characteristics; they are:

• Corrosive: they eat or wear away at many materials

• Flammable: they easily ignite

• Reactive: they can cause an explosion or produce deadly vapours

• Toxic: they are poisonous to humans and animals

  

One litre of motor oil can contaminate two million litres of drinking water.

Some examples of hazardous wastes you may find around your house:

• antifreeze
• batteries
• brake fluid
• chemical strippers
• chlorine bleach
• contact cement
• drain cleaners
• fire extinguishers
• flea collars and sprays
• herbicides insect repellent
• insecticides
• kerosene
• lawn chemicals
• lighter fluid
• lye
• mothballs
• nail polish remover
• old propane tanks
• paints pesticides
• pool chemicals
• prescription drugs
• solvents
• spot removers
• stains and finishes
• toilet cleaners
• used motor oil
• oven cleaners

You can't treat hazardous wastes like other kinds of garbage.

• Buried wastes can filter down through the soil and contaminate groundwater.

• Wastes can clog storm sewers and over-burden septic systems.

• Plumbing systems can be damaged by corrosive chemicals.

• Burning hazardous wastes may simply distribute them over a larger area.

• Pouring hazardous liquids on the ground can poison soil, plants and water.

Products labelled as corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic should be disposed of only at a hazardous waste facility. Even if they don't have warning labels, it's safe to assume that products like paint, motor oil and old propane tanks are potentially hazardous too.

Most of these wastes are produced by industry. Hazardous wastes are an unfortunate by-product of the manufacture of metals and plastics, computer equipment, dyes and paints, among other commodities.

Government regulations control the disposal of industrial hazardous wastes, but you can do your part to protect the environment by taking special care when you buy, use or dispose of potentially hazardous substances.

DO I REALLY NEED TO USE THIS?

There are three questions you should ask yourself when you're shopping:

Do I really need to use this?

The "new, improved, miracle formula!" may be more hype than help. Sometimes, the old- fashioned methods are simpler and safer. Instead of using hazardous chemicals, you could practice organic gardening techniques (do some research on companion planting, natural pest prevention and composting or use alternative cleaning products.

How much do I really need?

Try to buy just enough to finish the job. If you must buy a large quantity, share what's left with a friend or a community group.

How will I dispose of this when I am finished?

Is using the product worth all the hassle involved in getting rid of it?

Find out where the hazardous waste disposal facility is in your community and watch for special collection days. In the meantime store your collection of hazardous wastes out of the reach of children and pets.

Hazardous household wastes don't have to be a long-term disposal problem. The next time you have to buy a potentially hazardous product, look for the type that has been recycled. Re-refined motor oil is a good example.

SO THIS IS THE YEAR YOU'RE FINALLY GOING TO GET AROUND TO CLEANING OUT YOUR CUPBOARDS. CONGRATULATIONS! IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU GOT RID OF ALL THOSE RUSTY CANS AND DUSTY BOTTLES, THE OLD PICKLE JARS WITH THEIR DRIBS AND DRABS OF VARNISH, INSECTICIDE, AND WOOD PRESERVATIVE, THE PAIL FULL OF MOTOR OIL, AND ALL THE LEFTOVER LIQUIDS, POWDERS AND PASTES THAT THE CONTRACTORS DIDN'T TAKE WITH THEM AFTER THE RENOVATIONS.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE! YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO POUR THAT STUFF DOWN THE DRAIN, ARE YOU? DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE DOING? YOU'RE POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES.

WORD MATCH

A. 2 million litres

B. toxic

C. organic gardening

D. 8 million

E. groundwater contamination

F. corrosive

G. used motor oil

H. all-purpose cleaner

Questions...

1. Two hazardous products you may find in your house.

2. The amount of drinking water one litre of motor oil can contaminate.

3. A method of growing plants without using pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

4. Two characteristics that may make a product hazardous.

5. Environmental damage caused by improper disposal of a hazardous waste.