August 2013 Residential Communications Resources
Topic: Household Hazardous Waste
Blog
Recycle Household Hazardous Waste, Don’t Throw It
Open a cupboard in your kitchen, basement or garage, and read a few product labels. If
they contain the words caution, warning, danger or poison, they may contain materials
that are hazardous to you, to your family and to our environment if not used up or
disposed of properly.
Don’t throw these materials in the garbage or pour them down the sewer or on the
ground. Instead, use them up or bring them to your county drop-off site where they will
be properly managed.
Common Household Hazardous Waste Items
Products that require special handling are found in many areas around your home. In the
garage, you’ll find automotive and recreation materials, including aerosol cleaners,
degreasers, antifreeze, oil and gas. Yard and garden care items include fertilizers,
pesticides, weed killer, bug spray, and charcoal lighter fluid.
Household items may include aerosol cans with product remaining, drain cleaner,
mothballs, nail polish/remover, oven cleaner, spot removers, compact fluorescent bulbs,
and mercury-containing thermometers and thermostats.
Some batteries contain hazardous metals. Find battery recycling options here.
Ask your recycling service provider if empty latex paint cans and aerosol cans are
accepted curbside. If not, dispose of empty aerosol cans and dried latex paint cans (lids
off) in the garbage.
If containers aren’t empty, your choices include using them up, giving them away or
taking them to a household hazardous waste drop-off site. Some household hazardous
waste drop-off sites also offer a free product reuse area, so your unwanted items can be
used by someone else.
Hazardous waste drop-off sites, including hours and materials accepted, are listed here.
On our site, you’ll also find more information on managing your waste in ways that
protect you, your family and the environment.
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
Social Media
Tweets :
1. Have you checked out our blog post for August? Our focus is on household
hazardous waste.
2. Need a refresher on what to throw (and what to take to a hazardous waste drop-off
site)?
3. It’s illegal to put compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the garbage. Recycle
them instead! Get recycling pointers at RethinkRecycling.com/cfl.
4. Did you know? Many hardware stores and retailers that sell fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
also collect them for free recycling.
5. Become a label reader. Look for signal words on labels and choose the least
hazardous product.
6. True or false: You can throw cell phone batteries in the garbage. False. Get drop-off
locations by calling 1-800-8-BATTERY or going here.
7. True or false: You can throw “heavy-duty” or “general purpose” batteries in the
garbage. True, if made after 1993. If older than that, contact your county for
recycling options.
8. Did you know liquid paint is banned from disposal in solid waste and sewer
systems? Contact your county hazardous waste office for safe disposal options.
9. CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. If you break more than two at one
time, call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 800-422-0798.
10. Do you change your own motor oil? Used oil and filters are hazardous and don't
belong in the trash. Find convenient recycling options here.
Facebook Posts:
1. Have you checked out our blog post for August? Our focus is on household
hazardous waste. (link to blog)
2. Need a refresher on what to throw (and what to take to a hazardous waste drop-off
site)?
3. It’s illegal to throw compact fluorescent bulbs in the garbage. That includes
fluorescent bulbs of all shapes and sizes (CFLs, tubes, circles, U-shaped, bug
"zappers," tanning lamps, and black lights), high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps
typically used for exterior lighting (metal halide, mercury vapor and high-pressure
sodium), and neon lights. Learn about recycling them.
4. Many hardware stores and retailers that sell fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) also collect
them for recycling. Other options include some county household hazardous waste
drop-off sites, city recycling events and recycling companies. Find more
information about recycling options in your area here.
5. Become a label reader. Look for signal words on product labels and choose the least
hazardous product.
6. True or false: You can throw cell phone batteries in the garbage. False. Find
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation drop-off locations or call 1-800-8BATTERY. Some counties and cities also accept rechargeable batteries.
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
7. True or false: You can throw “heavy-duty” or “general purpose” batteries in the
garbage. True, as long as they were made after 1993. If older than that, contact
your county for more information.
8. Did you know liquid paint is banned from disposal in solid waste and sewer
systems? Contact your county hazardous waste office for information on managing
paint.
9. CFL bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. If you break more than two
fluorescent bulbs at one time, or if you are unsure of how to safely clean up
broken bulbs, call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 800-422-0798.
10.Do you change your own motor oil? Used oil and filters are hazardous and don't
belong in the trash. Find convenient recycling options here.
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach
efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling materials by sending an e-mail to Info@RethinkRecycling.com with a description of
how the materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.