Do you know that there are things in the house that are hazardous but we oftentimes overlook them? Yes, that is right. The empty bottles and other garbage that you just throw away with no second thoughts may be some of the hazardous materials that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to be disposed of properly. The thing is that this can be inconvenient to homeowners, especially without proper knowledge about these things.
Proper waste management is more than just hiring junk removal in Midland TX or any companies that provide excellent junk removal services; as homeowners, we also need to do our part such as knowing which materials should be disposed of properly.
But what is really a hazardous material, specifically that which is found in households? Hazardous waste is a discarded part of a household product that contains chemicals that are harmful to the environment and/or living organisms including human beings. This product cannot and should not be discarded or thrown in regular garbage bins. Most hazardous products contain labels such as CAUTION, WARNING, FLAMMABLE, POISONOUS, TOXIC, EXPLOSIVE, CORROSIVE, or REACTIVE and therefore should not be thrown in regular trash cans. Otherwise, they will end up in landfills and will contaminate the soil and groundwater.
When it comes to hazardous liquids, draining them in your sink or toilet is also not a good idea, as well as burning toxic materials. They may spread to other areas and affect some living things.
The following are the items that residential trash collectors do not pick up as they are hazardous to be thrown at the landfill:
- Any sort of batteries
- An automotive product such as fluids, antifreeze, oil filters, polish, gasoline, and waxes
- Any light bulbs
- Chemicals you use for cleaning your swimming pools
- Any sharp objects like needles, syringes, lancets, and more
- Thermometers or anything that contains mercury
- Any electronics such as cell phones, computers, laptops, and more
- Any paint products as they contain chemicals that may harm the environment
- Pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and any chemicals that you use in your garden
- Any cleaning chemicals
- Prescriptions and medicines
- Explosives and any kinds of ammunitions
Always remember that these items should be carried and thrown by municipal hazardous waste collectors as they are equipped in properly dispose of these items. Moreover, policies regarding the disposal of these items vary from state to state and so, it is imperative that you do your own research in your area. The following are the first steps that are recommended to the homeowners:
- Recycle materials such as used batteries, motor oil, and e-waste
- Search online about how to properly dispose of hazardous items in your city or country as policies may vary
- Find the contact information of any closest waste collection facility or service that collects these HHW items
It is easy to just throw everything we deem as garbage and not care about how it can impact the environment or living things. However, it is part of our responsibility as homeowners to ensure that the items and products we purchase and use are properly disposed of.
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