| What
is Household Hazardous Waste? |
Most
homes have a fair number of products stored in the garage,
basement, shed, bathroom and kitchen that contain hazardous
chemicals. The leftover and unused contents of these products
are known as "household hazardous waste."
Hazardous substances
are toxic, corrosive, can easily catch on fire or can react
or explode when mixed with other substances. Read the labels.
If you see the words, "caution," "hazardous,"
"danger," "flammable," or "poison,"
you need to use these products with extreme care. Just as
they require special care when you use them, they require
special care when you throw them away. If you don't, you may
cause serious injury to yourself, your loved ones, and pets.
And when you don't dispose of them properly, you could pollute
the environment by poisoning the sewer and septic systems,
drinking water, groundwater, and the earth.
Improperly discarded
household hazardous wastes pose a threat to sanitation workers
because the products can ignite or explode in the garbage
trucks, and trash handlers have been injured by fumes and
splashing chemicals.
| "But
I Didn't Mean To"... |
A community would
be horrified if a vandal were to contaminate the public drinking
water supply by adding a poisonous substance to it. But when
homeowners dump a can of paint thinner, for example, down
a drain or into a storm drain, it is not regarded by others
to be dangerous. The opposite is true' the effects on Rhode
Island's water resources are just as disastrous. When hazardous
products are poured town the drain, they harm septic systems
and can leach nto drinking water wells. In neighborhoods equipped
with public sewers, they may damage wastewater treatment facilities
and degrade the quality of Rhode Island's shoreline.
Storm
drains are a direct route to nearby waterways. Rainfall moving
over and through the ground that has been contaminated with
pesticides, motor oil and other human pollutants transports
the pollutants into storm drains and catch basins where it
travels to lakes, rivers, wetlands, and beaches.
If you want clean
beaches to enjoy and safe water to drink, you must do your
part to ensure that you aren't polluting them, even unintentionally.
You may be surprised
to learn that most pollution is caused by many small infractions
by careless citizens than from a single source such as an
oil tanker spill. It is a fact that every year Americans
improperly dispose 192 million gallons of used motor oil into
our environment. This is more than 17 times the oil spilled
by the Exxon Valdez.
The average household
stores about 10 gallons of common hazardous waste. Check the
list below to see if you have any of these items in your home:
-
Batteries -
automotive and rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries (no
alkaline batteries)
-
Gasoline
-
Oil-based paints
-
Fluorescent
light bulbs and lamps
-
Pool chemicals
-
Propane tanks
-
Lawn chemicals,
fertilizers and weed killers
-
Turpentine
-
Bug Sprays
-
Antifreeze
-
Paint thinners,
strippers, varnishes and stains
-
Arts and crafts
chemicals
-
Charcoal lighter
fluid
-
Disinfectant
-
Drain clog dissolvers
-
Driveway sealer
-
Flea dips, sprays
and collars
-
Houseplant insecticides
-
Metal polishes
-
Mothballs
-
Motor oil and
filters
-
Muriatic acid
(concrete cleaner)
-
Nail polishes
and nail polish removers
-
Oven cleaner
-
Household pest
and rat poisons
-
Rug and upholstery
cleaners
-
Shoe polish
-
Windshield wiper
fluid
In Rhode Island, you can bring
all of your household hazardous waste to the Eco-Depot, a
free drop-off at the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation's
facility at the Central Landfill in Johnston. It's fast and
easy. Load the materials, in their original containers and
clearly labeled, in your vehicle and fill out the inventory
form stating what you are bringing and the quantity. When
you arrive at the drop-off, trained personnel will unload
the materials and collect your inventory form. You don't even
need to get out of your car!
You must book an appointment
to drop off your HHW. Please call us at 942-1430x241
to schedule a date and time. This service is for Rhode Island
household hazardous waste only.
You
have several.
If the product is still useable
(its shelf life hasn't expired), check with your friends and
neighbors to see if they might be able to use it up. It is
always preferable to use a product rather than waste it.
Although chemical products are
usually safe when used according to label directions, these
products can become dangerous when people are unaware, or
forget, that they are handling hazardous products. If you
must buy hazardous products, buy only the smallest amount
you need. Keep in mind that it is much safer to choose the
least toxic products available. It may require a little more
muscle on your behalf but you won't have to worry about keeping
toxic and dangerous products in your home. This is especially
true if you have young children and pets.
There
are many non-hazardous substitutes you can choose. Lemon juice,
vinegar, hot water, borax. soap, and baking soda are good,
safe alternatives for cleaning products. Practicing organic
gardening guarantees safe lawns and gardens. Household spices
are great substitutes for pest control products. For detailed
recommendations and "recipes," visit our website
www.rirrc.org, or call
our recycling hotline at 942-1430x775.
| Directions
fo the Central Landfill |
Location
65 Shun Pike, Johnston, Rhode Island
From Providence
Take Rte. 6 West to 295 South. Take Exit 4/Plainfield Pike,
follow for 1.5 miles to Green Hill Road. Turn right, follow
approximately 1 mile to Central Landfill Complex.*
From 95 South (and all points
north)
Take 95 South to Exit 14/Rte. 37West to 295 North. Go
about 5 miles to Exit 4/Plainfield Pike. Turn left at end
of exit onto Plainfield Pike, follow for 1.5 miles to Green
Hill Road. Turn right, follow approximately 1 mile to Central
Landfill Complex.*
From 95 North (and all points
south)
Take 95 North to 295 North. Take Exit 4/Plainfield Pike.
Take left at the light and follow for 1.5 miles to Green Hill
Road. Turn right, follow approximately 1 mile to Central Landfill
Complex.*
*At Central Landfill Complex
Turn into entrance, pass guard house and follow road to
the scale house. The attendant will direct you to the ECO-DEPOT.
Reprinted with permission of
the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, all rights
reserved.
