Cayuga County residents once again this year have the opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of household hazardous wastes. The 2018 HHW event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, and is an excellent opportunity to properly dispose of common (and sometimes not so common) household hazardous wastes FOR FREE! The proper disposal of hazardous materials protects the environment, our community and our health. Due to the rapid strides in technology, Australia is one of many countries have been successfully able to manage waste materials of course with the services provided by waste disposal Northern Beaches.
According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website (epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw), a household hazardous waste is any leftover household product that can catch fire, react or explode under certain circumstances or are corrosive or toxic. You can determine if any of the products in your possession fall into these categories by reading the label.
The EPA website also offers some tips for safe handling of household hazardous wastes which include: reading and following label instructions for safe use and storage, keeping the product in its original container and never storing hazardous materials in food or look alike-containers (children may be attracted to these with potentially disastrous results), and never mixing products together as they may start a fire, explode or produce toxic fumes.
It is equally important to follow the directions on the label for storage and disposal of hazardous materials. Improper disposal can pollute the environment and/or be a threat to human health. Never pour products down the drain or flush down the toilet as they can contaminate a septic system or wastewater treatment system. If improperly disposed of in the trash, they could harm sanitation workers. Also, children and pets can become curious if not stored securely.
Consider reducing the amount of products used in your home containing potentially hazardous materials. There are many products available today that are environmentally friendly or natural, or consider making your own products using common materials you may already have on hand like our grandparents did.
Hopefully by now you have thought about what HHWs you might have on hand and wonder how to participate in the Oct. 20 event. All participants must pre-register before Friday, Oct. 19, on CCE’s website at blogs.cornell.edu/ccecayuga; click on the red “Register Here” button and follow the registration prompts. After registration you will receive a printable entrance ticket for you to print, complete and bring with you. After registering you will be provided the location of the event.
Should you have trouble registering, do not have access to a computer, or have questions, please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at (315) 255-1183 ext. 238.
What can be brought to the event? Acceptable HHWs include: Pesticides (chemicals that kill things like weeds, insects and fungus); oil-based paints (these are paints that you clean with paint thinners or turpentine); mercury or “quicksilver” (often found in thermometers and barometers); driveway sealer; gasoline mixtures; pool chemicals; photograph developing chemicals; home chemistry sets; mothballs and household cleaning products.
We are also accepting fluorescent tube lights and ballasts; gas grill (small) propane tanks; smoke detectors and button cell batteries from hearing aids, cameras, etc.
What not to bring to the event? Please do not bring latex paint, also known as water-based paint. You can tell if it is latex as the clean-up directions will say to clean with water. Call CCE for information on how to safely dispose of latex paint. We are no longer able to accept alkaline batteries which includes AAA, AA, C, D and nine-volt batteries. These are no longer considered hazardous waste and can be disposed of in the trash. You may have noted we are emphasizing fluorescent tube lights as hazardous; they can contain small amounts of mercury. The compact fluorescent bulbs also known as CFLs can be recycled at Lowes and Home Depot and will not be accepted on Oct. 20.
Please NO tires, ammunition, explosives, asbestos, radioactive waste or medical waste or sharps. Also, please leave the dogs and children at home; many people assist with this event and may be reaching into the vehicle for the products! We want everyone to be safe.
The Cayuga County Household Hazardous Waste collection event is funded annually by the Cayuga County Legislature and the state Department of Environmental Conservation with additional support from Nucor Steel. Cayuga Recycles manages the event through Cayuga County’s Solid Waste Management Program Office with assistance provided by Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County provides educational outreach and registration services.