Hazardous Waste

You probably hazardous waste with environmental disasters like Love Canal or Times Beach, Missouri, or perhaps with radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. You might be surprised to learn that hazardous materials are found in virtually every home in America, and that the typical American throws out 10 pounds of hazardous waste a year.

Hazardous waste is defined as discarded material that may pose a health and safety threat to humans, wildlife, or the environment when it is improperly stored, transported, or disposed of. Household products contain toxic chemicals that range from A (aldicarb, used in pesticides) to Z (zinc, used in batteries). Theses products can be found in every room of a house, for they include oven and drain cleaners, furniture polish, used motor oil, and garden weed killers and pesticides.

The United States generates about 250 million tons of hazardous waste a year, or about one ton per person. Canada produces some six million tons annually. That means this year, next year, and so on. Think how that will add up over your lifetime. Industries, agriculture, and power plants are responsible for most of that waste, but everyone who uses the products the industries have made, or the energy produced by the power plants, contributes indirectly to the waste.

Hazardous wastes can be liquids, gases, or solids. They may be hazardous for a number of reasons:

• Poisonous or toxic substances can be lethal to humans, animals, and plants. If exposure is slight, you might experience nothing more than a sore throat, dizziness, or nausea. But prolonged exposure to toxic substances can increase your risk of developing cancer, leukemia, and respiratory illnesses. Some toxic substances are suspected of causing reproductive problems and birth defects.
• Corrosive substances, such as battery acid or drain cleaner, burn or eat away at other materials, including flesh.
• Flammable materials, such as gasoline or solvents, can catch fire.
• Explosive or reactive substances can explode or release toxic vapors when they are mixed.

How do you know if something you buy is hazardous? The boldfaced words in the preceding paragraph are a good indication. If they appear on the label, the product is hazardous. Other warning words that might appear are Poison, Danger, Warning, or Caution. Poison and Danger are the worst; they mean the contents are highly toxic.