Helping at Home: Hazardous Waste

Identify and properly dispose of hazardous waste

Many of the chemicals used in everyday activities can be toxic when they enter aquatic systems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average household in America generates 20 pounds of hazardous household wastes annually. The typical home also stores 100 pounds of hazardous wastes in storage areas such as basements and closets.

Identify common household hazardous wastes

The following is a list of common household hazardous wastes that contribute to non-point source pollution:

Household items Aerosol Products Button batteries Batteries (rechargeable) Drain cleaners Fluorescent lights Mothballs Nail polish/remover Oven cleaner Polish with solvents Spot removers Thermometers with mercury	Home improvement Concrete cleaner Driveway sealer Furniture stripper Glue with solvents Latex paint Oil-based paint Paint remover Paint thinner Roofing tar Stain/varnish Wood preservatives
Lawn and garden Bug spray Charcoal lighter fluid Fertilizer (with weed killer) Insect killer Pool chemicals Rodent bait Weed killer	Automotive Auto batteries Brake Fluid Carburetor cleaner Degreasers Fuels Oil filters Used antifreeze Used motor oil

Properly dispose of household hazardous waste

Alachua County has a number of toxic and hazardous waste management facilities.

The largest of these facilities is the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center (HHWCC), located at 5125 NE 63rd Ave. next to the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station (Waldo Rd North of the Airport -- follow the signs). The center, operated by Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection, collects the following materials (free of charge, unless otherwise stated on their collection Web site):

• Poisons
• Flammable Liquids
• Corrosives
• Used Motor Oil and Filters, Brake Fluid, Transmission Fluid
• Automotive Batteries
• Antifreeze
• Stale Gas and Diesel Fuel
• Paints and Other Surface Coatings
• Aerosol Containers
• Dry Cell Batteries
• Fluorescent Lamps
• End of Life Electronics

If you are trying to dispose of a hazardous material that is not collected by the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, visit www.earth911.org and enter your zip code for waste collection centers in your area.

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