Plastic Recycling

Household Hazardous Waste

  

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Household hazardous wastes are products such as aerosols,paints,paint thinner,furniture polish,household cleaners,oven cleaners,drain opener,windshield wiper fluid,brake fluid,motor oil,adhesives,
pesticides,fertilizers and batteries. These products contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients and should be disposed of properly. It is improper to dispose of hazardous products by pouring them down the drain, into storm sewers, on the ground or putting them in the trash.
Proper storage is just as important as proper disposal of these products to avoid potential risks associated with HHW.

Follow the tips below in your home for proper storage of products containing hazardous substances:

• Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. 
• Call your hazardous material official or your local fire department for containers that have become corroded as these require special handling. 
• If you have leftover HHW never mix with other products. Mixing incompatible products might react, ignite or explode, and contaminated products may not be recyclable. Hazardous products have caused severe burns, blindness and even death. Some household hazardous products have fumes or vapors that can irritate lungs.Hazardous products pose a health threat to pregnant women.
• Remember to follow instructions carefully for proper use and disposal provided on product labels. Thousands of people including children are injured each year in their homes by improper handling of household hazardous wastes. Accidental poisonings have occurred when a product has been left within the reach of a child. It can also happen when food, drinks or cigarettes are used while handling HHW.

Improper disposal methods of these wastes can pollute not only our environment but is also harmful to human health. Sanitation workers have been severely injured when hazardous products have been improperly disposed. Our drinking water can become contaminated when these products are poured down the drain or sewers. Many communities in Canada offer safe and convenient ways of disposing of HHW. Call your local environmental, health or solid waste collection agency for upcoming collection days and drop off programs in your area.

• Reduce: To help reduce the purchase of household hazardous waste products, consider using alternative methods or products without hazardous ingredients. In doing so we help conserve resources, energy and costs in the making of more products. Try using natural products which are more readily available on the market today. Recipes for making your own natural products can be found in books at most libraries.
• Reuse: If you have leftover products such as paint, cleaners or automotive products share with a friend, neighbor or an organization in your community who may need some of these unused products. Sometimes schools or churches may need them.
• Recycle: Many household hazardous wastes can be recycled. Motor oils, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, automotive batteries and button batteries are products that may be recycled in your area. Contact your local household wastes officials for locations in you area. 
• For further information on proper disposal of household hazardous wastes go to http://www.ec.gc.ca