How to Discard Hazardous Home Waste

It’s spring and your honey-do list is growing as fast as the weeds in your lawn. If you want to get “clean out the garage” off the list this weekend, there are a few things to keep in mind before you get started. Even a quick clean in the garage can turn up a handful of hazardous chemicals. You need to find a safe way to get rid of these chemicals, or you will likely face a steep fine. Most of these household items cannot be poured down the drain, into the toilet or set alongside your usual trash bags.

Recycling laws vary among townships, counties and municipalities; the best first step is to contact the local Department of Public works or visit their website. The department will be able to provide you with a print out of what can be recycled, how you can prepare the items for pick up or where to take them if the municipality does not recycle the item.

Batteries

Large batteries, including those that power your car, contain toxic lead and cannot be taken to the city dump. There are a number of recyclable parts to batteries, such as sulfuric acid and lead plates. These can usually be reused with a small amount of processing. Most stores that sell these large batteries will recycle them for you. Sometimes car repair shops will refund you part of the cost of the new battery if you recycle the old one.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is alcohol-based and toxic if ingested or leaked into a waterway. If you are changing your car’s brake fluid, be sure to catch the liquid in a run-off jar. When the fluid has stopped draining, pour the liquid into a container of cat litter and leave it out to evaporate for a few days. Keep it away from children, pets and open flames while it is evaporating.

Coolant

You can come across coolant in a variety of places in your home – from your air conditioning system to your car’s radiator. Grab a clean drain pan and funnel before draining the coolant. Make sure that drain pan is spotless and oil free – if even a small amount of oil mixes with the coolant, it cannot be recycled. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to remove the coolant from the system or radiator and close off the oil pan when the liquid stopped draining. You should be able to take the used coolant to commercial car shops to be recycled. Many shops have machines which distill glycol from the used coolant, and then repackage the clean coolant for resale.

Paint and Gasoline

Most paints used around the house are solvent-based, and made from either enamel or lacquer. Very few municipalities will take paint or thinners as waste. If you have a small amount of paint, consider pouring it into a pan and allowing it to dry then dispose of it with your household trash. Make sure the paint is put in a well-ventilated area, cannot be disturbed by pets or children and is not near an open flame. A large amount of paint or gasoline will need to be disposed of through a hazardous waste system.

Tires

Rarely will a municipality take tires with regular trash or during special pick up. Some areas use old tires to fuel cement kilns. The burning tires reach such high temperatures that they will draw water out of limestone and transform it into cement. Some car body shops will dispose of tires for you, but you may have to pay a small fee for the service.

The best way to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals and other items around your home is to plan ahead. Keep your cars running smoothly and you will be able to extend the life of your battery. When you paint a room, purchase only the amount you believe you will need for the project. Buy purchasing less at the start, you won’t waste money or toxic chemicals.

About the Author:
Wesley Holm, President of Thompson Plumbing Heating & Cooling, Cincinnati-based plumbers, heating and air conditioning company that offers the best HVAC maintenance and plumbing repairs in the Greater Cincinnati area.