Do you have hazardous wastes in your home? Almost certainly. Please touch the flashing dots to see what hazards you have in your house.

The average home contains 3-10 gallons of material that is considered hazardous to health or the environment. Most of the products you keep under your sink, in your medicine cabinet or in the garage are hazardous - cleansers, paints, automotive products, medicines, lawn and garden products, etc. Once they have been used, have expired, or you no longer have any use for them, they are hazardous wastes.

It is illegal to put such wastes in the trash or down the drain because they can cause fires or explosions; pollute water supplies; damage equipment; pose a danger to sanitation workers, children and animals; or cause incidents.

Residents should call their local sanitation department or their County Office of Environmental Health Services, who should be able to direct you to the proper authorities. They should be able to  tell you what days they will be collecting household hazardous wastes and make an appointment for you. They will also send you information about the proper use and disposal of specific hazardous products and alternative products you may want to use instead.  If you live elsewhere,  your local fire department should be have more information.

The following tips will help you avoid unnecessary hazardous products and hazardous wastes in your home:

• Read labels carefully to make sure the products you buy do what you want.
• Do not buy more than you need.
• Follow directions about using and disposing of chemicals.
• If possible, buy another product that is not hazardous or less hazardous.
• Recycle as much as possible:
  • If you have leftovers, see if a friend can use the remainder.
  • Donate leftover paints to a church or organization.
  • Many paint and automotive products are recyclable. Take them to a designated collection site or use a service station that recycles these products. (Although Temarry Recycling, Inc..  recycles these products, we cannot accept them directly from homes.)  If taken to the proper authorities, they will send them to the proper facility for recycling.)

Please remember, every effort counts when it comes to helping our environment.