Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is the discarded, unused or leftover portion of household products containing toxic chemicals. Any product labeled WARNING, CAUTION, POISONOUS, TOXIC, FLAMMABLE, CORROSIVE, REACTIVE or EXPLOSIVE is considered hazardous and needs special care to be used and disposed of safely.

Many products used in the home contain hazardous chemicals. Some of the most common HHW includes paint and paint products, pesticides and fertilizers, motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, automotive batteries and household batteries, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, aerosol sprays, pool chemicals and many others.

Improper use, storage or disposal of these products can contaminate natural resources including the water supply. Our very life depends upon an uncontaminated water supply. Careless disposal of hazardous waste can endanger the integrity of the landfill liners, resulting in groundwater pollution.

The proper way to dispose of household hazardous wastes is to participate in a community collection event or take the products to a HHW Collection Center. Personnel trained in handling household chemicals will take those products and properly dispose of them or recycle them.

Each resident of Kaufman County can help control household hazardous materials by:

Reading the label to determine how to use the product safely.
Purchasing only the amount of product needed and using up the contents.
Sharing leftovers with neighbors, businesses or organizations who will use them properly for their intended purpose.
Recycling used motor oil, oil filters and auto batteries at Kaufman County HHW Center, a county maintenance barn, or at dealers where those products are purchased.
Keeping all household chemical products out of the reach of children and pets.
Disposing of chemical solids in original containers whenever possible.
Using less toxic, chemical-free alternatives.

Also remember:

Do not dump into septic system or storm drainage system.
Do not dispose of liquid chemicals, banned pesticides, batteries or motor oil in the trash.
Do not burn chemicals and do not dump or bury containers of leftover chemical products in the yard or garden.
Do not use pesticide or chemical containers for other purposes. Residues remain in the container and will contaminate other materials placed in the containers.
Do not mix chemicals together. (Combining chemicals can result in a chemical reaction that can be very dangerous to your health.)

HHW/Disposing of Old Paint
Oil base paint and cleaners: Dispose at the Kaufman County Household Hazardous Waste Center at the Kaufman County Pct. 4 ECO-Station at Kemp. For information call the HHW Center, 903-498-4135, or call Environmental Co-op at 972-524-0007.

NOTE: Latex (water base) paints: Latex paint is not a hazardous chemical and can be disposed of in your trash pickup if it is dry. Remove the lid from the paint can and let it sit a few days to solidify. To rush this process, pour onto large sheets of plastic and dry it in the open-air. Mixing kitty litter into the paint can will help speed up the drying process also.

Proper Disposal of Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs

Changing traditional light bulbs (called incandescent) to CFLs is an effective, single change everyone can make. CFLs use up to 75% less energy (electricity) than incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, and provide a quick return on investment.

CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact (not broken) or in use.

Should a CFL bulb burn out, please dispose of properly at a Home Depot store. They have containers near the customer service area to place your bulbs in.

If a bulb breaks, use a broom or brush, do not vacuum. Use rubber gloves to collect the broken glass and put it in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape to collect the smaller fragments then put the tape in the sealed bag. Let the room air out for 15 minutes to remove any lingering mercury vapors, or use a fan to blow air out of the room.

Non-Hazardous Pest Management

Whenever it is time for the popular pastime of gardening, it is also time to take care of pesky insects. Do you realize the impact your activities have on our water? Small changes can add up to big improvements. Consider the following tips before pouring on the pesticide.

Use physical and biological controls to eliminate pests in the garden and around the house. For example, proper use of sand barrier around the base of the house can keep out termites. Boric acid is a good remedy for cockroaches. Additionally, using “good bugs” in your garden to keep “bad bugs” out is a safe, biological method of controlling unwanted insects without insecticides.

If natural remedies are not successful, use pesticides sparingly. Read and follow the instructions every time you use household chemicals. Be sure to secure the material when finished so that there are no leaks.
Environmental responsibility is up to each of us. Using these tips regularly will make them into earth-friendly habits.

Alternatives to Common Household Chemicals

Laundry bleach - 1/2 cup either white vinegar, baking soda or borax
Floor or furniture polish - Substitute 1 part lemon juice and 2 parts olive oil or vegetable oil.
Glass cleaner - Mix vinegar with equal parts water, or use undiluted alcohol as a substitute.
Rug deodorizer and cleaner - Lightly sprinkle baking soda on dry rugs and carpet, then vacuum.
Toilet bowl cleaner - A toilet brush with baking soda on it is a great substitute.
Roach killer - Use equal parts of boric acid and powdered sugar.
Ant killer - Try chili powder or Drione (silica gel), or Max Force bait to hinder entry of ants.
Oven cleaner - Mix baking soda with water to form a paste and use to clean.
Fertilizers - Organic fertilizers, like compost or fish emulsion, bone or blood meal, earthworm castings or liquid seaweed work great.

ALWAYS LABEL ALL HOMEMADE MIXTURES
WITH CONTENTS AND RECOMMENDED USE