Equally as important when developing an effective recovery and diversion program is the accountability of wastes with toxic characteristics. Toxic waste characteristics are increasingly more common in Industrial wastes, but many common household items exhibit toxic properties. One of the primary goals of “Rethink Your Waste” is to educate residents about the toxicity that is found in our garbage. In low quantities, wastes derived from items that we use every day, such as our automobiles, computers and even prescription drugs may pose health and environmental consequences if disposed or mishandled. Laws prevent businesses and industries from disposing materials that have toxic or hazardous qualities, but there are few laws preventing residents from disposing similar items.
Common household items that exhibit toxic characteristics include a plethora of materials that are commonly found in your garage, shed or basement. The disposal of items such as lead-acid batteries and waste oil is prohibited in New York State and a separate collection infrastructure has been developed to manage them. For other wastes, such as electronics, pharmaceuticals and various home care items, there is no formally established collection infrastructure. Instead, these wastes are the responsibility of the generator (us) and need to be taken to special collection events or managed with care. To be notified of upcoming collection events, request to be added to the “Upcoming Events” list at recycling@niagaracounty.com.
Household Hazardous Wastes:
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is any solid, liquid, or gaseous waste or mixture of wastes that exhibit flammable, corrosive, toxic or caustic properties. Examples of HHW include oil based paint, solvents, pesticides, and various cleaners, epoxies and polishes.
You can identify HHW by downloading this brochure and reading the labels on products. If the label contains phrases such as WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER or others like FLAMMABLE, VOLATILE, TOXIC, CORROSIVE, REACTIVE and POISON the material should be managed with care. The best way to manage HHW is to generate as little as possible and use all of it for its intended purpose. If you have a little left over, ask a neighbor or donate the remaining material for use. Also, buy only what you need and avoid over purchasing with the thought that it can be used later. Once all those options are exhausted and you still have some remaining, the best advice is to wait for a collection event. Locally, the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District provides a free, limited HHW collection service to district residents. More information about this program and acceptable items visit: http://www.niagaracounty.com/Landfill/hazardous_waste.asp.
In the future, look for a replacement product that is an ecologically friendly alternative to a hazardous material. Look for labeling that includes phrases such as “Environmentally Safe”, “Biodegradable”, “Non-toxic”, and “Non-Corrosive”.
Electronic Waste
Electronic Waste or E-waste is essentially anything that takes a battery or has a cord; but what they are not is garbage! It is important that e-waste is diverted from disposal because several hundred different materials can be found in any single device, some of which may contain hazardous metals and components. On average, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) found in TV’s and monitors contain five to seven pounds of lead and are hosts to toxic trace metals such as mercury and cadmium. When e-waste is disposed, the hazardous components combine and they become a primary contributor to the toxicity found in sanitary landfills. On the contrary, many of the aforementioned materials and metals can be recovered, which combined with strong post consumer markets, make them strong candidates for recycling.
Have you ever asked yourself what you are going to do with your old VCR, Walkman, or Computer? If you haven’t already swapped your VCR for a DVD or Blu-Ray player or upgraded to a digital flat screen TV from a picture tube TV, statistics indicate you are about to. The quick turnover and burgeoning use of consumer electronics, has resulted in the fastest growing waste category that has increased 44% since 2000! It is estimated that 4 billion pounds of various consumer electronics devices, albeit an old Betamax player or a television, will be tossed away this year alone!
The Niagara County Division of Environmental and Solid Waste is committed to providing several electronic waste collection events throughout the community each year. In 2009, two events were hosted and over 33 tons of electronic waste was collected from residents! If you have unwanted or obsolete electronics for recycling, gather them and bring them over to the next collection event planned for April 10, 2010 in Lockport. To keep informed of upcoming events, check the CALENDAR or send us your e-mail information and we will let you know about upcoming events (recycling@niagaracounty.com).
Pharmaceutical Wastes
Expired or unwanted prescription or over-the-counter medications from households have traditionally been disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or pouring down a drain. This method may be convenient and prevents accidental ingestion, but it can cause pollution in wastewater, which has been demonstrated to cause adverse effects to fish and other aquatic wildlife and is highly discouraged.
Pharmaceutical waste management is sensitive because of public health and environmental impacts. The best and safest way to manage these wastes is to take them to a Pharmaceutical Waste Drop-off Event or safely dispose of them in your trash. Each September, Niagara County sponsors a collection event where residents can properly dispose of their unwanted medications and sharps (needles, syringes).
If you wish to manage these wastes at home, follow the procedure below:
- Keep the medication in its original packaging or container. The labels contain safety information and the caps are typically childproof. Leaving the content information clearly visible, scratch the patient's name out or cover it over with permanent maker.
- Modify the contents to discourage consumption.
- Solid medications: add a small amount of water to pills or capsules to at least partially dissolve them.
- Liquid medications: add enough table salt, flour, charcoal, or nontoxic powdered spice, such as turmeric or mustard to make a pungent, unsightly mixture that discourages anyone from eating it.
- Blister packs: wrap packages containing pills in multiple layers of opaque tape like duct tape.
- Seal and conceal. Tape the medication container lid shut with packing or duct tape and put it inside a non-transparent bag to ensure that the contents cannot be seen.
- Discard the container in your garbage can—do not place in the recycling bin. Do not conceal medicines in food products because they could be inadvertently consumed by wildlife scavengers.
For more information about Pharmaceutical waste and the dangers they pose to fresh water, visit this USEPA
Cathode Ray Tubes found in televisions and monitors contain harmful contaminants such as mercury, lead and chromium and account for 85% of the contamination found in landfills.
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