Dear Jeff,
What a thoughtful housewarming gift, not to mention a great idea for getting rid of stuff. Maybe that's how I'll handle my kitty litter disposal problem. I've been wanting to move anyway.
Please do not put these or any other household hazardous materials in your trash. Landfill liners eventually crack and leak, and when they do it is toxic chemicals like these that mix together and ooze out as "leachate," contaminating soil and groundwater and creating a financially and environmentally costly cleanup problem that will last into the indefinite future.
Trashing toxins also poses a potential health threat to your garbage collector. Also (not that you were thinking of doing this), please do not pour any of these products on the ground, down the toilet, in the storm drain or anywhere else to get rid of them. I have a neighbor who pours motor oil on his driveway to keep the dust down. It might do the trick for the dust, but it puts highly toxic metals and chemicals directly into the environment. Products such as paints, cleaners, solvents, automotive fluids, batteries, pesticides, glues, etc. contain hazardous ingredients and need to be disposed of safely.
So close the trash can and head to the Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program. They'll accept household toxins at no charge from residents of Boulder and Broomfield counties and the town of Erie. The program is for residents only, and not for businesses or nonprofit organizations. Products dropped off at the facility are either reused, recycled or handled by a licensed hazardous waste contractor for proper disposal.
How do you know if a product is considered hazardous? Check the labeling for the following words: "poison, toxic, corrosive, volatile, flammable, inflammable, combustible, explosive, danger, caution, warning or harmful." If you see any of those words individually or in combination, the product is likely hazardous and should stay out of your garbage.
As you transport your hazardous waste to the HHW center, be sure you do not mix any chemicals together. The county asks that you please keep products in their original containers with lids tightly sealed and transport them in the trunk or rear of your car rather than on a passenger seat. Please do not put products together in trash bags or trash cans. If lids pop off en route, the spill of multiple products can result in a highly toxic chemical combo in the bag or can. Instead, use a sturdy cardboard or wooden box with newspaper padding to keep products standing upright.
While you're visiting the drop-off, check out the free reusable product give away. The county receives many products like paints, varnishes, cleaning and hobby supplies, automotive products, etc. that are suitable for reuse. Individuals, businesses and non-profits may all pick up reusable products at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis The HHW drop-off facility is located at 5880 Butte Mill Road in Boulder (one-half mile east of 55th Street and Pearl Parkway, inside the Western Disposal Transfer Station.) It's open for drop-off and for the reusable product giveaway each 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Wednesdays, and 8 a.m.-noon, Friday and Saturday. No appointment is necessary. For more information and a full list of wastes accepted, visit Boulder County Household Hazardous Waste or call their hotline at (303) 441-4800.
Of course the best approach to handling household hazardous waste is to reduce your use of toxic products in the first place by buying non-toxic alternatives. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if only 1 percent of U.S. families cut their hazardous waste in half, we'd keep 7.3 million pounds of hazardous waste out of our landfills and waterways each year.
