Types of Household Hazardous Wastes
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Household Cleaning Products: aerosols, air fresheners, bleach, ammonia, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, aluminum cleaner, spot remover, dyes, furniture polish, rug cleaners, wood preservatives
Automotive Products: lead-acid batteries, anti-freeze, automatic transmission fluid, brake fluid, fuel additives, gasoline
Paints and Solvents: acetone, wood preservatives, varnishes and lacquers, paints, paint and varnish removers, paint thinner
Pesticides: insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides, fungicides, germicides, miticides, insect repellents
Other Products: pool chemicals, ammunition, dry cell and disc batteries, airplane glue, photography chemicals, septic tank cleaners, some glues and adhesives
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Categories of Hazardous Wastes
TOXIC
Poisonous; may cause death, cancer, or birth defects if swallowed, absorbed through the skin or inhaled
herbicides, ant and roach killers, silver polishes, certain medicines, antifreeze, rose dust, rock salt, plant food, flea powders
CORROSIVE
Able to decompose common materials such as steel; may cause burns to people or animals
automotive battery acid, oven cleaners, pool acid, cooper/metal cleaners, some bleaches, drain cleaners, some rust removers
REACTIVE
Reacts spontaneously with air or water; explodes when dropped; gives off toxic gases
ammunition, home chemistry sets
IGNITABLE
Will burn or explode under certain conditions at almost any temperature; floor polishes, lighter fluid, WD-40, paint solvents, nail polish remover, gasoline and other fuels.
RADIOACTIVE
Emits radiation spontaneously; some smoke detectors (amount is too small to be hazardous if used correctly) What Should You Do?
- Identify Them
- Store Safely
- Use Less Toxic Alternatives
- Buy Only What You Need
- Use Up Entirely
- Recycle or Take to Collection Site
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HHW Identification
Auto Products
| CHEMICAL PRODUCTS |
HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS |
HAZARD PRODUCTS |
| Antifreeze |
Ethylene Glycol |
Toxic |
| Transmission Fluids |
Hydrocarbons, Mineral oils |
Flammable toxic |
| Brake Fluids |
Glycol ethers, Heavy Metals |
Flammable toxic |
| Used oils |
Hydrocarbons, Heavy Metals |
Flammable toxic |
| Batteries |
Sulfuric acid, Lead |
Corrosive toxic |
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HOUSE PRODUCTS
| CHEMICAL PRODUCTS |
HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS |
HAZARD PRODUCTS |
| Silver Polishes |
Acidified thiourea, Sulfuric acid |
Corrosive toxic |
| Oven Cleaners |
Potassium or sodium hydroxide, Ammonia |
Corrosive toxic |
| Toilet Cleaners |
Muriatic or Oxalic Acid hydroquinone, Sodium sulfite, Ferrocyanide |
Corrosive toxic irritant |
| Disinfectants |
Diethylene or Methylene glycol, Sodium hypochlorite |
Corrosive toxic |
| Drain Cleaners |
Sodium or Potassium hydroxide, Sodium hypochlorite, Hydrochloric acid, Petroleum distillates |
Corrosive toxic |
| Rug & Upholstery Cleaners |
Naphthalene, Perchloroethylene, Oxalic acid, Diethylene glycol |
Corrosive toxic irritant |
| Floor & Furniture Polish |
Diethylene glycol,
Petroleum distillates,
Nitrobenzene |
Flammable toxic |
| Bleach Cleaners |
Sodium or Potassium hydroxide, Hydrogen peroxide, Sodium or Calcium hypochlorite |
Corrosive toxic |
| Mothballs |
Naphthalene, Paradichlorobenzene |
Toxic |
| Pool Chemicals |
Muriatic acid, Sodiumhypochlorite, algicide |
Corrosive toxic |
| Ammonia-based Cleaners |
Ammonia, Ethanol |
Corrosive toxic irritant |
| Abrasive Cleaners or Powders |
Trisodiumphosphate, Ammonia, Ethanol |
Corrosive toxic irritant |
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PESTICIDES
| CHEMICAL PRODUCTS |
HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS |
HAZARD PRODUCTS |
| Enamel or Oil Based Paints |
Pigments, Ethylene, Aliphatic hydrocarbons, Mineral Spirits |
Flammable Toxic |
| Latex or Water |
Resins, Glycol ethers, Pigments, Phenyl mercuric acetate |
Toxic |
| Rush Paints |
Methylene chloride, Petroleum distillates, toluene |
Flammable toxic |
| Thinners & Turpentine |
N-butyl alcohol, Acetone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, Petroleum distillates |
Flammable toxic |
| Furniture Strippers |
Acetone, Methyl ethyl, ketone, Alcohols, Xylene, Toluene, Methylene chloride |
Flammable toxic |
| Wood Preservatives |
Chlorinated phenols, Copper or zinc naphthenate, Creosote, Magnesium fluorosilicate |
Flammable toxic |
| Stains/Finishes |
Mineral spirits, Glycol ethers, Ketones, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Naphtha |
Flammable toxic |
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Safer Alternatives
Cleaning Products
| Product |
Safe Alternative |
| Oven Cleaners |
Baking soda, water, steel wool pads |
| Toilet Cleaners |
Toilet brush and baking soda, mild detergent |
| Disinfectants |
1/4 to 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon hot water |
| Drain Cleaner |
Plunger or snake, flush with boiling water, 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 oz. vinegar |
| Ammonia and All-Purpose Cleaners |
For surfaces: vinegar, salt and water mix for bathroom: baking soda and water, also 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap, 2 teaspoons TSP mineral available at hardware stores) in 2 gallons of water (removes wax build-up as well) |
| Rug and Upholstery Cleaners |
sprinkle baking soda on rug, then vacuum |
| Floor and Furniture Polish |
1 part lemon juice, and 2 parts olive or vegetable oil (shake well before applying) |
| Laundry Bleach |
1/2 cup white vinegar, baking soda or borax |
| Mothballs |
cedar chips, newspapers, lavender flowers |
| Metal Polishes |
or brass and copper: lemon and salt or lemon and baking soda; for chrome: apple cider vinegar; for silver: paste of calcium carbonate (a powder available at drug stores) and olive oil - allow to dry before polishing with a soft white cloth |
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Pesticides
| Product |
Safe Alternative |
| Fungicides |
do not over water, keep areas clean and dry |
| Botanical |
(Naturally insecticidal soap (such as "Safer" brand) breaks down Derived) Pesticides insect's protective coating |
| House Plant Insecticide |
Mixture of bar soap and water or old dishwater spray on leaves then rinse |
| Flea Collars and Sprays |
herbal collar/ointment(eucalyptus or rosemary) or brewer's yeast in pet's diet |
| Roach and Ant Killers |
for roaches: traps or baking soda and powder sugar mix, for ants: chili powder to hinder entry, boiling water on mounds |
| Rat and Mouse Poison |
Live traps, remove food supply |
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Paints/Finishes
| Product |
Safe Alternative |
| Enamel or Oil Based Paints |
Latex or water-based paint |
| Latex or Water-Based Paints |
limestone-based whitewash or case in-based paints, recycled content paints |
| Stains/Finishes |
latex paint or natural earth pigment finishes |
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Auto Products - Used Oil
Alternatives for antifreeze, transmission fluids, brake fluids, used motor oil and batteries are unknown. Be responsible and recycle these household hazardous wastes. Find a service station or reclamation center that accepts used oil and other auto wastes or call your local city/county waste disposal department and inquire about a possible household hazardous waste collection event in your area.
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