According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste is generated by Americans every year, with an average house having as much as 100 pounds of hazardous waste.
In view of this fact, there are high chances that your house also has a lot of hazardous waste materials lying in your basement, garage, and storage closets.
What is Household Hazardous Waste?
The EPA defines household hazardous waste as products or items that are toxic, corrosive, reactive, flammable, combustible, or explosive
Common Household Hazardous Items
The hazardous items that are found in almost every home include:
- Batteries
- Aerosols
- Paints, oil, and varnish
- Automotive products
- Thermometers, thermostats, mirrors, or any other items that contain mercury
- Household cleaners and pesticides
- Lawn fertilizers
Improper Disposal of Hazardous Waste Is Dangerous
Have you been making the mistake of throwing your household hazardous waste with your regular trash? If yes, then you are not only damaging the environment, but also increasing health risks for yourself as well as others.
While you are not legally entitled to separate hazardous items from your regular trash, you can do yourself and others a huge favor by handing over these potentially dangerous items to recycle centers or to a professional junk removal company.
This is because the toxic chemicals found in these items can pollute the soil and air. When poured down the drains (like many people do with leftover cleaners), they can contaminate sanitary systems and septic tanks, which can then pose health risks to sanitation workers.
One of the major reasons for improper disposal of hazardous waste is that its dangers do not immediately become obvious. But, we need to understand that they cause lasting damage to our environment and pose serious risks to not only humans, but to all living beings.
What You Can Do To Reduce The Effects Of Household Hazardous Waste
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are two ways to deal with the dangers household hazardous wastes pose:
- To reduce their usage and opt for healthier and safer alternatives
- To dispose them off properly
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Summary
Household hazardous wastes pose serious environmental concerns and risks to all living beings. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends reducing their usage and properly disposing off the hazardous waste items to mitigate the risks.