Household hazardous waste (HHW) if not disposed of properly, can and does pose a threat to human health and the environment. The key to proper management of hazardous wastes involves knowing what is a household hazardous waste, reducing the amount of household hazardous waste, using non-hazardous alternatives and discovering other steps you can take to reduce the waste put in local landfills. The average U.S. household generates about 30 pounds of household hazardous waste per year. The United States generates about 1.6 million tons each year. Household maintenance products like paint, thinners and glues make up more than a third of the HHW in daily garbage. Anything from household cleaners and batteries to personal care products like nail polish, polish remover and hair spray make up the other two-thirds. Vehicle care requires grease and oil, which are hazardous products and gardeners use pesticides and fertilizers. Keeping pets pest-free requires hazardous chemicals. Lighter fluid you used to start your grill is hazardous. Pool chemicals and pharmaceuticals take us from the backyard to the medicine chest which is overflowing with hazardous waste.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! Household hazardous waste can be reused and recycled if it is brought to a household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center. Many counties in North Carolina have permanent HHW collection centers. Temporary HHW collection sites consolidate wastes for reuse, such as donating paint to Habitat for Humanity or by using hazardous wastes as a fuel. Many HHW collection centers also accept used oil and so do many auto parts retailers. To avoid the potential risks associated with household hazardous wastes, it is important that you always monitor the use, storage, and disposal of products with potentially hazardous substances in their homes. Improper disposal of HHW can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the regular trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Certain types of HHW have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers, contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatment systems if poured down drains or toilets. They can also present hazards to children and pets if left around the house.
Some quick tips for the safe handling of household hazardous wastes include: • Follow instructions for use and storage provided on product labels to prevent any accidents at home. • Be sure to read product labels for disposal directions to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing other hazards on the way to a disposal facility. • Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. • When leftovers remain, never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become unrecyclable. • Remember, even empty containers of HHW can pose hazards because of the residual chemicals that might remain, so handle them with care. • Prior to disposal, pack HHW materials upright in a sturdy storage box. If containers are leaking, place in a leak-proof container with adsorbent material such as kitty litter, sawdust, or newspaper. • Place packed HHW materials in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location where children or animals cannot reach until scheduled disposal.
Twice a year the Coastal Environmental Partnership sponsors a series of Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection Days in Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. We accept: latex and oil paints, used motor oil, lawn and garden fertilizer and pesticides, gasoline, drain openers, paint thinners, cooking oil, anti-freeze and batteries. This year, there will be SIX opportunities, instead of the usual three that we do. In Carteret County, two opportunities exist. The first is on April 30th from 8:00 A.M.—1:00 P.M. All hazardous wastes will be collected at the Carteret County Health Department located at 3820 Bridges Street in Morehead City. In nearby Craven County, one collection remains and it will be on October 1st at the Craven Community College. In Pamlico County, the two collections ate on May 14th and October 9th at the County Courthouse.
In addition to these temporary events, paint, used oil and auto batteries can be taken to permanent Convenience sites in these three counties. Paint cannot be landfilled because it is a liquid. Dried paint in cans can be dumped with your regular trash. So can empty paint cans. If you have paint that is not dry, leave the lid off for a while and let it dry out, or speed up the process by adding kitty litter or Oil-Dry to soak up the liquid. Used oil and auto batteries are collected at the County convenience sites in Carteret, Craven and Pamlico Counties, also and the disposal is free to residential customers. Used electronic equipment can be recycled at either of the two Carteret County Convenience Centers located at 800 HIbbs Road in Newport or 485 Harkers Island Road in Otway.To learn more about other recycling opportunities along the Crystal Coast, go to my website, www.EmeraldIsleHomesforSaleNC.com and sign up for my blog. Ready to buy or sell? Call me at 919-308-2292. Explore the video tab for my weekly uploads to my YouTube channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and receive free donuts at my Flip Flops Donut shop. Text your email address to 919-308-2292 and subscribe to my newsletter. My book, "Live Where You Vacation" is available on Amazon.com.
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