To find your local recycling center:
--check the Yellow pages
--call your local city government to find out about hazardous waste collections or disposal sites.
--call the Environmental Defense Fund 1-800-CALL EDF or visit their website: Environmental Defense Fund
--check the EPA website They will answer emails.
These resources should be able to tell you what to recycle, where dropoff centers are, and if you get pickups for hazardous wastes.
PAINTS, STAINS, AND FINISHING PRODUCTS
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Photo by Diana Martin
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- Latex or Water Based paints (glycol esters, phenyl mercuric acetate)
Disposal: Air dry leftover paint and discard the paint can.
Alternatives: Casein-based paint or limestone-based white wash.
Less toxic than latex paints and nonflammable, but still contains harmful substances like phenyl mercuric acetate.
- Rust paints (methylene chloride, tolulene, petroleum distillates)
Disposal: Store unused paint for hazardous waste collection or give away.
Flammable and toxic.
- Oil-based or Enamel paints (ethylene, aliphatic hydrocarbons)
Disposal: Save unused paint for hazardous waste collection or give away.
Alternatives: Latex or water-based paints.
Flammable and toxic.
- Wood preservatives (chlorinated phenols, creosote, copper or zinc napthenate)
Disposal: Save leftover product for hazardous waste collection or give away.
Flammable.
- Turpentines and Thinners (n-butylalcohol, acetone, petroleum distillates)
Disposal: Using a fine wire mesh, strain solids for hazardous waste collection. Liquid portion can be reused.
Alternatives: Use water-based paints because these can be thinned using just water instead of solvent-based thinners.
Flammable and toxic.
- Stains and Finishes (glycol esters, ketones, naphtha, halogenated hydrocarbons)
Disposal: Save leftover products for hazardous waste collection or give away to someone else who can use it.
Alternatives: Natural pigment finishes or latex paint.
Flammable and toxic.
- Furniture strippers (acetone, alcohols, xylene, tolulene, methylene chloride)
Disposal: Unused strippers should be saved for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: Electric sanders, heat guns, or sandpaper.
Flammable and toxic.
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS
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Photo by Diana Martin
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- Disinfectants ( lye, cresol, ammonia, phenols, diethylene)
Disposal: Follow directions until product is used up and rinse container before disposal.
Alternatives: one-half cup borax with one gallon of water, soap and hot water, isopropyl alcohol.
Toxic and corrosive.
- Rug cleaners (naphthalene, oxalic acid, diethylene glycol)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: Try using cornstarch, wait one hour and then vacuum.
Toxic, corrosive, known irritants.
- Toilet bowl cleaners (oxalic acid, calcium hypochlorite)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: mild detergent or baking soda
Corrosive, toxic, irritant.
- Abrasive cleaners (ethanol, trisodiumphosphate, ammonia)
Disposal: Follow directions until product is used up. Rinse container before disposal.
Alternative: Scrub the area with one-half lemon dipped in borax.
Corrosive, toxic, irritant.
- Oven cleaners (ammonia, potassium or sodium hydroxide)
Disposal: Use up product as directed.
Alternatives: baking soda and hot water with fine steel wool.
Corrosive and toxic.
- Ammonia cleaners (ammonia, ethanol)
NEVER MIX AMMONIA CLEANERS WITH BLEACH!!!! The combination can form chlorine gas, which is extremely toxic
Disposal: Rinse very thoroughly with large amounts of water.
Alternatives: baking soda and water or vinegar, salt and water.
Corrosive, toxic, irritant.
- Metal cleaners (acidified thiourea, sulfuric acid)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
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Alternatives:
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GOLD--use toothpaste.
ALUMINUM, BRASS, BRONZE, CHROME, PEWTER, STAINLESS STEEL,
COPPER--use vinegar or vinegar and salt.
SILVER-soak in boiling water with baking soda, salt and strips of aluminum foil.
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Toxic, corrosive.
- Floor/Furniture polish (ammonia, phenol, diethylene glycol)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: Two parts olive or other vegetable oil mixed with one part lemon juice.
Flammable and toxic.
- Bleach cleaners (sodium or potassium hydroxide, sodium or calcium hypochlorite)
NEVER MIX BLEACH CLEANERS WITH AMMONIA CLEANERS!!!
The combination can form chlorine gas, which is extremely toxic
Disposal: Rinse very thoroughly with large amounts of water.
Alternatives: Sodium hexametaphosphate, dry oxygen bleaches or borax. Laundry can be cleaned using
one-half cup sodium hexametaphosphate for every five gallons of water.
Toxic and corrosive.
- Drain cleaners (hydrochloric acid, petroleum distillates)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: Use a plunger, pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain, or flush out with boiling
water. NEVER USE A PLUNGER AFTER USING A COMMERCIAL DRAIN CLEANER!!!
Highly corrosive and toxic.
AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS
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Photo by Diana Martin
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- Windshield wiper fluid (methanol)
Disposal: Unused portions should be saved for hazardous waste collection.
NEVER pour this into your septic system as it will destroy the bacteria that is essential for breaking down wastes!
Toxic.
- Used motor oil (hydrocarbons like benzene, lead, zinc)
Disposal: Bring the oil to a service station that accepts it for recycling. Some areas have reclamation
centers for disposal.
Motor oil should always be stored away from heat and out of the reach of children!
Flammable and toxic.
- Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
Disposal: Bring antifreeze to wastewater plants so that bacteria can break down the ethylene glycol.
TIPS: NEVER pour antifreeze into storm drains or on the ground!
Pets WILL DRINK puddles of antifreeze because it is sweet. This is a problem because
antifreeze is HIGHLY TOXIC!!! The ingestion of this substance can result in brain or kidney
damage and respiratory or cardiac failure. ALWAYS STORE AWAY FROM CHILDREN
AND PETS!!! Promptly clean up any spills.
- Car wax (naptha)
Disposal: Allow wax to harden and then it may be disposed of in a regular landfill.
Flammable irritant.
- Gasoline and diesel fuel (tetraethyl lead in leaded form//benzene and ethylene dichloride in unleaded form)
Disposal: Gasoline must be stored carefully and disposed of at a specialized reclamation center.
TIPS: Keep out of the reach of children.
NEVER
---store near flames or heat.
---perform mouth siphoning.
---store in your car.
---use as a paint cleaner or solvent.
Highly flammable,toxic.
- Transmission fluid (hydrocarbons, mineral oils)
Disposal: Take used product to a service station or reclamation center. Used transmission fluids
contain lead and other heavy metals.
Flammable and toxic.
- Batteries for automobiles, boats (sulfuric acid and lead)
Disposal: Check "Yellow Pages" for battery recycle centers.
Toxic and corrosive.
- Brake fluid (glycol ethers)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection. STORE AWAY FROM HEAT AND CHILDREN!!!
Highly flammable.
OTHER HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
- Shoe polish (Avoid those containing methyl chloride, trichloroethylene or nitrobenzene)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: lemon juice, olive oil, beeswax, walnut oil. Stains can be removed from leather with vinegar.
Toxic.
- Glues (including epoxy, plastic adhesives, rubber cement, instant glue, model glue. These contain toxins).
Disposal: After using as directed, dried glues may be put in the trash.
Alternatives: Use white or yellow wood glue.
- Aerosols
Please make sure they are EMPTY before throwing away to avoid the danger of explosion.
Alternatives: Try to avoid buying them in the first place. Many products can now be bought in
spray or pump bottles and some products can be bought in solid form.
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Photo by Diana Martin
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- Pool chemicals (chlorine, muriatic acid, petroleum distillates, algicides, sodium hypochlorite)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Corrosive, toxic.
- Ant and roach killers (organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethrins)
Disposal: Save for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: ANTS---Wash surfaces with vinegar. Sprinkle bone meal, lemon juice, powdered
charcoal or chili powder at points of entry. ROACHES---Spread baking soda and powdered
sugar in infested areas.
Toxic.
- Air fresheners
Alternatives: Use an open dish of vinegar to remove odors.
Flammable.
- Photographic chemicals (acetic acid, hydroquinone, sodium sulfite, ferrocyanide)
Disposal: Save product for hazardous waste collection.
Toxic, irritant, corrosive.
- Nail polish and remover (Polish-formaldehyde resin, phenol, tolulene, xylene. Remover--- acetone)
Disposal: Save products for hazardous waste collection.
Toxic, flammable, irritant.
- Houseplant insecticides (methoprene, malathion, tetramethrin and carbaryl)
Disposal: Save products for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: Spray plants with used soapy dishwater and rinse.
Toxic.
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Photo by Diana Martin
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- Flea and tick repellents (carbamates, pyrethrins and organophosphates)
Disposal: Rinse containers thoroughly with large quantities of water before disposal when
product is gone.
Alternatives: citronella, herbal ointments, herbal collars, putting Brewer's yeast in the pet's food.
- Mothballs (naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene)
Disposal: Store product for hazardous waste collection.
Alternatives: flower petals, newspaper, lavender, cedar chips.
Toxic.
Remember to recycle used containers whenever possible and check the Environmental Defense Fund website for updates.
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