HOUSEHOLD HAZARDS 

“It's Your Castle – Make Sure It's Covered!”

Home is where your heart is – along with a healthy chunk of your net worth. Your house is one of your most important investments. There’s no place like it. As we journey through life―dodging the occasional wicked witch―it’s comforting to know that a cozy bed, loving arms, and perhaps even a Munchkin or two await, just across the threshold.

Hazardous waste and its proper disposal have become a major sociological problem today due to its capability of contaminating the area in which we live and it’s potential to be lethal to all living things. Inside of many households there are hazardous wastes and harmful products. These products are often left unattended and can pose a serious threat to children and pets. That is why it is so important to note which products in your home are considered hazardous and how you can alleviate any hazardous waste in this form. Certain hazardous materials in the house cannot just be thrown in the trash without ensuring that no children or animals can get to them. It is important to note that these household items are safe when they are used as instructed but with time they can degrade and their chemical reactions can change causing them to become harmful.

When you care for yourself, your home, your gardens, and your machines, you use many chemical products.  Research shows that some of these products contain materials that are hazardous to human health or the environment.  Hazardous substances fall into the following categories:  POISONOUS, FLAMMABLE, and CORROSIVE (likely to eat through its container or your pipes), or REACTIVE (may explode during routine handling).

Most household products are not hazardous.  It is when products are improperly used, stored or disposed of that they may become hazardous to human health and the environment.  To prevent problems, follow all label directions carefully.  

  Do's

·         Read the product label.

·         Watch for signal works; CAUTION, WARNING, or DANGER. U.S. Product Safety Commission requires the use of these words on products which are toxic in small amounts.  Keep all of these products away from children.

·         Buy just enough products to do the job.

·         Look for a less or non-hazardous product to perform each job.

·         Recycle or use all products if possible.

·         Properly dispose of leftover products. SEE CHART ABOVE FOR DISPOSAL POTIONS

·         Keep leftover products in original containers.

·         Share unused products.

Don'ts

·         Do not DUMP leftover products in the backyard or down the sink or storm sewer.

·         Do not BURN or BURY leftover products.

·         Do not REUSE pesticide of other chemical containers for other purposes.

·         Do not MIX chemical wastes.

 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Paints, pesticides, propane tanks, batteries, syringes, used motor oil and many cleaning products are just some examples of household hazardous wastes that are used daily by residents. These items contain toxic ingredients and should be used and disposed of with caution. Do not place out for regular garbage pick-up. Please do not pour motor oil, paints or solvents down your drain or into sewers.

Household Hazardous Waste WILL NOT be collected with your garbage or recyclables.

 Insight:

Disposing of solid waste today is an investment to preserve tribal lands for generations to come. Some tribes have taken this investment and implemented solid waste codes to promote safe and healthy environments for their communities. They have made it illegal to dump any solid waste except at permitted facilities. Through public health law, tribal leaders focus on preserving the environment for future generations. In order to support their efforts to manage waste and preserve the environment, tribal solid waste management codes emphasize three key trends, namely the need to: 1) prevent illegal dumping; 2) promote recycling; and 3) properly dispose of junk vehicles. Saving our environment is what people must do not only today but for tomorrow. Students like us are more aware of what happening in the environment now days and we are more encouraged helping save our Mother earth. In this, students have the willingness in supporting the government in implementing different law that can lessen the degradation of our environment.

https://www.geico.com/getaquote/homeowners/

http://www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=68919

http://www.ssee2011conference.com/household-hazardous-wastes-an-academic-essay-sample.asp

http://co.adams.wi.gov/Departments/SolidWaste/HazardousWasteintheHome/tabid/185/Default.aspx

http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=57cd433112b02410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD