As a society, we’re becoming more mindful of our waste and how it affects the environment. We should be careful with what we throw away and how we dispose of it. However, some materials can cause harm if not disposed of correctly. Before you throw anything into the trash or flush it down your toilet, make sure you know what constitutes hazardous waste so that you can dispose of these items safely at home.
As a society, we should be mindful of our waste and how it affects the environment.
We have laws in place to help us dispose of hazardous materials safely, but if you aren’t familiar with these laws or don’t know where to start when disposing of hazardous waste at home, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.
When looking for places where you can safely dispose of hazardous materials like oil-based paints or paint thinner (which contain solvents), be sure that they are registered businesses or municipal agencies authorized by law enforcement agencies such as EPA and state departments who can provide documentation proving their compliance with local regulations governing disposal methods and procedures.
Some materials can cause harm if they’re not disposed of correctly.
- Dispose of hazardous waste correctly. The first step to safely disposing of household hazardous waste is ensuring you know what’s considered dangerous and how to dispose of it safely. Hazardous materials include:
- Household cleaners containing bleach or other disinfectants (such as Lysol)
- Paints and thinners containing lead compounds (such as oil-based paints)
- Please dispose of all other household chemicals according to their packaging instructions, which should be available from the manufacturer or retailer where you bought them.
Before you dispose of anything, educate yourself on what constitutes “hazardous waste.”
Hazardous materials can be defined as any substance that could be harmful if not disposed of properly. Some examples are:
- Electronics and computers
- Paint and pesticides
- Petroleum products
Hazardous waste disposal is a big business in the United States, with more than 500 companies handling it at one time or another. According to the EPA, hazardous wastes account for about 9% of all landfills nationwide; this figure includes approximately 2 million tons per year in just one state—Massachusetts!
Certain items are considered hazardous waste because they contain chemicals that could contaminate groundwater.
These items include household cleaners, paints and other household products, automotive fluids, electronic equipment, and many other common household items.
- Household cleaners (e.g., bleach): These are highly toxic compounds that can cause serious health problems if consumed by humans or animals (dogs in particular). As a rule of thumb, if you’re unsure what it is or how much of it to use on your lawnmower or washing machine—don’t!
- Paints: A variety of colors contain solvents like acetone which can lead to headaches or nausea when inhaled over time by susceptible individuals.* Automotive fluids and oils: These are used in vehicles to lubricate parts such as belts & gears; however, these fluids may irritate when exposed directly without proper ventilation.* Electronic devices, including televisions/monitors; microwaves; computers, etc.
The following items contain chemicals that can contaminate groundwater and should never be flushed down the drain or thrown into the trash.
- Paint, paint thinners, and paint strippers
- Used oil and filters
- Lawn and garden chemicals
- Synthetic rubber (e.g., tires)
There are some potentially hazardous substances that we use in our homes.
Here are some potentially hazardous substances that we use in our homes.
- Oil-based paints: These paints contain oil and water, which can be hazardous if they’re not disposed of properly. If you use these colors, it’s essential to dispose of them properly, so they don’t contaminate the environment or cause fires in your home.
- Oil-based paint strippers: This type of stripper contains solvents like methyl alcohol and acetone that may pose serious health risks if they’re misused (for example, by inhaling vapors). It’s best to get rid of these items safely at a recycling center rather than burning them at home.
- Paint thinners: If you have leftover paint left over after finishing up a job but don’t want it on your hands anymore, consider using an automotive degreaser such as WD-40 instead! The solvent will dissolve away any remaining residue from previous coats without having any negative effects on its integrity or durability over time; unlike turpentine which evaporates quickly leaving behind greasy residues due to its boiling point being higher than water’s (which makes this substance unsuitable for cleaning clothes).
If you can’t use the remaining liquid, solidify it with cat litter or sawdust, then place it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash.
If you can’t use the remaining liquid, solidify it with cat litter or sawdust, then place it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash. Do not flush this waste down your toilet! It’s important to remember that hazardous materials are not just limited to household items like paint and pesticides. When disposing of these materials properly, you’re helping keep our local environment safe from harmful pollutants.
If you have questions about how best to safely dispose of hazardous waste at home, contact us today!
Use the steps above to dispose of hazardous material at home safely.
If you’re disposing of hazardous waste at home, follow these steps:
- Don’t flush it down the drain. Flushing harmful substances down your toilet or other plumbing system may cause serious damage to your home’s plumbing system and can also result in an unpleasant surprise when you find that one of those nasty chemicals has made its way into the water supply.
- Please don’t throw it in with your trash. Although this might seem like an easy solution, there are many hazards associated with throwing away anything that could create a fire hazard or pollute landfills, as well as air quality concerns when burning trash produces toxins such as carbon monoxide and other carcinogens (which aren’t good for us!). Plus, if someone else picks up this trash and handles it before we do—they could be putting themselves at risk too! So don’t put anything but recyclable items in those blue bins; if they’re full then go ahead and throw them out on top so others can use them later instead of taking their chances with recycling programs which tend not work very well when things get backed up due to lackadaisical neighbors who don’t take care of their duties properly…
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you decide what materials to throw away safely and how to do it. Remember, the most important thing is always being safe when disposing of hazardous waste at home.
At Plymouth Dumpster Rental NBD by Precision Disposal, we provide cost-effective, user-friendly trash rental services. As well as recycling, we support green energy. We have a solid reputation as a team of professionals in the waste management sector.
Our dumpster rental Plymouth is ideal for waste generated during construction or renovation projects, yard debris, trash, junk, and anything else you can think of.
