Household Hazardous Waste

Do you have toxic garbage?

Many people unknowingly or carelessly throw away items from their home that can cause major problems to the environment. If household hazardous waste (HHW) is disposed of improperly, it can start a fire, give off dangerous fumes, contaminate the soil or groundwater, or cause injury to people or animals.

What is household hazardous waste?

Household hazardous waste is defined as having one or more of the following four properties; flammable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic. Almost every home contains hazardous products, or products that can harm human health or the environment if improperly handled. They are products used in cleaning, home improvements, automobile maintenance, lawn and garden care, hobbies, and a variety of other tasks.  The following commonly used household materials may have these properties:

•   Pesticides and herbicides

•   Oil-based paints

•   Paint removers

•   Solvents

•   Brake fluid

•   Stale gasoline

•   Household cleaners (glass, bathroom, kitchen, etc.)

•   Fluorescent lamps and small compact fluorescent bulbs

•   Pool chemicals

ECUA Grease Recycling Program

Have you seen any of ECUA's "Loves Grease Hates Grease" billboards around town?  If so, you might know that ECUA has a Residential Grease Recycling Program aimed at reducing the amount of household cooking grease that ends up going down the drain from you kitchen sink.  Residential cooking grease can build up over time in your home's plumbing and in the sewer system creating "chokes" and sewer back-ups.

To learn more about what you can do about this issue, or to participate in the ECUA Residential Cooking Grease Recycling Program, visit us at www.ecua.org and click on the picture of "Loves Grease Hates Grease" billboard.  Let's work together to keep your household plumbing and our community's sewers clear and unclogged.

Disposal of Medication

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Florida Department of Health (DOH) are reminding Floridians to properly dispose of unwanted medications. Disposing with household trash rather than flushing down the toilet or a drain helps reduce the amount of pharmaceutical traces in Florida’s water bodies and drinking water.

“Proper disposal of unwanted medications helps protect Florida’s residents and visitors as well as our natural resources,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “Florida's drinking water utilities have an exemplary track record in delivering safe, affordable, high-quality, drinking water. We will continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey to study emerging chemicals and develop new criteria so that we can continue to ensure safe water for generations to come."

Many medications contain compounds, also known as microconstituents, that are used to enhance our quality of life by protecting human health, enhancing consumer goods, and optimizing agricultural production. Microconstituents may be found in very low concentrations in surface water, ground water, domestic wastewater, industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, reclaimed water, and other waters.

“While the issue of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water is not new, current media coverage on the topic may prompt concern among consumers,” said State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros, MD, MPH. “So far, these chemicals have been found at extremely low concentrations and current research has not demonstrated an impact on human health at the trace levels at which they have been found.”

The amount of microconstituents can be reduced by properly disposing of unwanted medications. While flushing them down the toilet or a drain prevents immediate accidental ingestion, it can impact our environment because many wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, are not designed to remove many of these medications. To properly dispose of unwanted household medications:

1. Keep the medicines in the original container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally ingested. 2. Mark out your name and prescription number for safety. 3. For pills, add water or soda to start dissolving them. For liquids, add something inedible like cat litter, dirt or cayenne pepper. 4. Close the lid and secure with duct or packing tape. 5. Place the bottle(s) inside an opaque container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle. 6. Tape that container closed. 7. Hide the container in the trash. Do not put in the recycle bin.

Disposal of unwanted medications from commercial facilities such as pharmacies, medical facilities and veterinary operations are subject to different regulations than those that apply to medications from household uses. Those commercial facilities should contact DEP’s Division of Waste Management for guidance.

For more information on the proper disposal of unwanted medications, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/default.htm, or checkout the following flyer from DEP.

When a residential household generates these wastes, they are known as "household hazardous waste". HHW are items in a home that can cause of injury if handled improperly.  Each year, thousands of people are injured by exposure or accident involving household hazardous products. Because of the dangers they pose, these products require special awareness, handling, and disposal. These items will usually have a warning or cautionary statement on their label, such as: Flammable, corrosive, poisonous, or toxic.  In order to protect health and environment, every consumer should know how to properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous household products. The disposal of household hazardous waste is exempt from some of the state and federal government regulations.  The HHW is collected and repackaged.  It is then transported to a facility where it is disposed of properly.

How should I prepare my Household Hazardous Waste for transport?

• Keep material in the original container with the label intact.
• Clearly label the container if the original label is missing.
• Label the container "UNKNOWN" if you do not know the material or    content. Include any information that you have about an unknown   material (paint, pesticide, etc.).
• Make sure all lids are tight.
• Place leaking containers in a larger container with an absorbent (kitty  litter or vermiculite).
• Do not mix different or unknown materials together.  Some compounds are reactive and could vent toxic fumes.
• Secure glass bottles to prevent breakage.

PLEASE DO

• Use nontoxic substitutes whenever possible.
• Buy only as much as you need.
• Follow label instructions.
• Give leftover materials to someone who can use it.
• Leftover household hazardous waste that can't be given away should be taken to the landfill.
• Store materials in a cool dry place.

PLEASE DON'T

• Do not mix household hazardous waste together.
• Do not pour household hazardous waste down drains or storm drains.
• Do not dispose of household hazardous waste with the trash.
• Do not bury household hazardous waste.
• Do not pour on the ground.

Please check out our brochure for more information on Hazardous Waste!