Household hazardous waste and how to get rid of it safely

By the County of Simcoe Waste Reduction Team

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 left behind after the renovations.

But wait a minute! You're not planning to pour that stuff down the drain, or to throw it out with your garbage? Do you realize what you're doing? You're polluting the environment with "Household Hazardous Wastes".

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is the residue of potentially harmful substances you use in your home. Hazarous wastes have one or more of the following characteristics:

CORROSIVE: They eat or wear away at many materials. FLAMMABLE: They ignite easily. REACTIVE: They can cause an explosion or produce deadly vapours. TOXIC: They are poisonous to humans, animals and plants.

Products labelled as corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic should be disposed of only at a HHW disposal facility. Even if they don't have warning labels, it is safe to assume that products like paint, motor oil and old propane tanks are potentially hazardous too. You can't treat hazardous wastes like other kinds of garbage.

* Buried waste can filter down through the soil and contaminate ground water. * Wastes can clog storm sewers and overburden septic systems. * Plumbing systems can be damaged by corrosive chemicals. * Burning hazardous liquids on the ground can poison soil, plants and water.

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

Antifreeze, batteries, brake fluid, chemical strippers, chlorine bleach, contact cement, drain cleaners, fire extinguishers, propane tanks, herbicides, insect repellent, insecticides, kerosene, lawn chemicals, lighter fluid, lye, moth balls, nail polish remover, flea collars and sprays, oil-based paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, prescription drugs, solvents, spot removers, stains and varnishes, toilet cleaners, used motor oil, oven cleaners.

You can do your part to protect the environment by taking special care when you buy, use and dispose of potentially hazardous substances.

The County of Simcoe has established a licensed drop-off facility at the North Simcoe Transfer Station, on Golflink Road 9 off Highway 93 in Tiny Township. The depot will be open on the third Saturday of each month from April to November to give residents the opportunity to dispose of these wastes.

For more information, call your nearest County of Simcoe Waste Reduction team member at the North Simcoe Transfer Station, 549-4500 or long distance 1-800-567-9237.