Ge t ting Rid of Trash Safely 411
Disposing of common toxics
These common household products create harmful waste if they are not
handled with care and gotten rid of safely.
Paint and paint containers. Store closed paint cans in a cool place. Once all
the paint is used, flatten paint containers, wrap them in newspaper, put them
in plastic bags, and bury them in a sanitary landfill. Latex paint is less toxic
than other paints, but needs the same disposal methods as other paint.
Solvents (degreasers, turpentine, paint removers). Store solvents in closed
containers in a cool place, so they will not cause a fire. Once all the solvent
is used, punch holes in the containers so they cannot be reused. Flatten the
containers, wrap them in newspaper, put them in plastic bags, and put them in
sanitary landfills or sealed containers.
Used motor oil. Never pour oil onto the ground or into waterways. Store
it in closed containers. Used oil can sometimes be recycled by auto servicing
stations. Used motor oil can also be used to coat wooden posts for building, to
prevent them from rotting in the ground, and can also be burned as heating oil
in some heaters.
Batteries. In some places, batteries
can be recycled. But recycling batteries
by hand is dangerous and should not
be done without proper training and
protective equipment.
Pesticides. Make holes in or destroy
pesticide containers so they cannot be
reused. Bury them in a sanitary landfill.
To learn how to use fewer pesticides in
farming or in the home, see Chapter 15
and page 367.
Waste from health care activities such
as bloody bandages, dirty needles and
other sharp tools, discarded medicines,
and so on. To learn how to reduce, store,
and best handle health care waste, see
Chapter 19.
These common products are
harmful, and make harmful waste,
if not handled with care.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012