Household hazardous waste (HHW) comes in many shapes and sizes. Chances are that there is HHW in your home right now stored under a sink, hiding in the garage, or tucked in a storage closet. Do you know how to spot HHW at your home? They tend to sport labels with words like any of the following: flammable, toxic, corrosive, danger, poison, caution or warning.
What items are considered HHW?
- Batteries
- Paints
- Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes
- Used motor oil filters
- Automotive fluids
- Household cleaners
- Electronics
- Medications
- Pesticides
- Thermometers and thermostats
Though these items are common in your house, they never have a home in your One Big Bin The power is in your hands to always keep HHW out of your One Big Bin and ensure it is properly disposed.
What’s the “bin” deal about HHW?
When HHW is thrown in your One Big Bin, it creates problems for our environment, the drivers who collect it and facility line workers who separate your waste. For example, HHW can lead to fires at the WPWMA facility, environmental destruction when they are disposed of incorrectly and injury to the essential workers who take care of the waste in Placer County.
Not only can it create unsafe situations for workers and our environment, but improper HHW disposal also negatively impacts the recyclables in your One Big Bin. Liquid HHW placed in your bin can spill and contaminate otherwise recoverable materials that would have been remade into new products. We require all of our customers to keep out HHW from the rest of your trash, so your plastic containers, aluminum cans and cardboard to go on to a higher purpose by being properly recycled a la your One Big Bin.
Placer Recycles is here to make sure that disposing of HHW is not overwhelming. Alongside your efforts to keep HHW out of your One Big Bin, we can protect essential workers, Placer’s beautiful environment and recyclables materials.
HHW proper disposal is just a phone call or quick trip to an HHW facility away! In qualifying areas, you can schedule free curbside pickup for these items or bring them into your local facility for easy drop-off. Keep it simple with our list of the go to “Dos and Don’ts” for HHW disposal:
- DO call your hauler for curbside pickup or take these items to one of four HHW disposal facilities in Placer County.
- DON’T place HHW items in your One Big Bin or pour them down the drain. This has considerable impacts on the environment, waste haulers, line workers who separate your waste, and the recyclables in your bin.
- DO keep HHW in tightly sealed container when placing for curbside pickup or hauling to an HHW facility.
- DON’T mix any HHW fluids or bring leaky containers that are not sealed properly.
- DO check with your neighbors, family and friends to see if they need any of your HHW before disposing of it properly
- DON’T purchase more than you need because it could lead to improper disposal of leftover materials in your One Big Bin.
