This is your year. Sometimes it’s not about the big changes, but the small changes that are important. None so much as your home, making sure it’s both safe from hazardous waste and has all the space it can by getting rid of old products you can’t dispose of easily. Today we’re going to talk about how to have fewer hazardous waste household products this year through better buying practices, use options, and hazardous waste disposal for your home.
Buy Fewer Hazardous Household Products
The best option is always prevention, so before your next shopping trip it’s a good idea to learn a bit more about household hazardous products
- Start By Reading the Labels: Products, from cleaning to automotive, need to be properly labeled with any hazardous ingredients and special disposal needs. Learn how to better read precautionary statements and pictograms with our blog.
- See What You Can Borrow: As well talk about more below, you’re not the only one with household products gathering dust. If you do need to use a hazardous product, talk to your friends, family, and neighbors first. There are even borrowing apps out there!
Make sure to check out our blog, A Guide to Reducing Household Hazardous Waste at Home for more details.
Use Up, Donate, and Give Away Current Household Items
At NEDT, we have a saying: “Buy only what you need; use up what you have; and recycle any leftovers.” So it’s our goal to be the last step (disposal) before your other options when it comes to getting rid of household waste. The best option? Put it to use! Figure out projects you can use with your current products. Barring that, do you have a family member, friend, or neighbor who could use them? There are also donation options for some products, like TVs. Check out our listing of Charity and Non-Profit Donation Programs.
Dispose of Household Hazardous Materials
Of course, not all products can wait around for use or be donated. They may be damaged or aged beyond use or might pose a risk to your family, especially with pets or young children. When it comes to that, and with many of these products unable to be thrown in the trash or down the drain, you’ll need to look at your disposal options. Check with your county to see if any programs exist, but it might be time to use an easier service that’s around when you need it.
Not sure if it’s time to dispose of household hazardous waste? Check out our quiz to get your rating!
NEDT’s Household Hazardous Products Collection Centers came out of the desire to provide alternatives to the often complex and rare opportunities for residents to get hazardous products out of their homes. Our tagline is “Because Household Hazardous Waste Shouldn’t Be Difficult,” and we stand behind it. Learn what we accept and our locations and times, and make sure to reach out if you have any questions. We also have a pick-up service for those who can’t make it to us!
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