Depending on your taste in music, there are certainly some types of heavy metal that are safe to store at home, but this article is about the other kind. Usually taking the form of old electronics such as dust-covered home entertainment systems and bulky TVs or hobbyist materials and chemicals, these heavy metal hazards can pose health risks at home or when you try to dispose of them. Learn how to identify and properly dispose of these types of household products to keep you and your environment safe. [Read more…]
Dealing with Mercury at Home in All Its Forms
When you think of household hazardous waste, it’s unsurprising if mercury comes to mind. While this liquid metal might be easily identifiable when in a (hopefully sealed) bottle, it’s less easy to spot when incorporated into electronics and other devices. In this blog post, we’re going to go over identifying and dealing with mercury at home, including in common devices and other forms you might see in your household. [Read more…]
Discovering and Disposing of Old Household Chemicals
Finally getting around to clearing out the box in the garage or crawlspace in the attic only to find dusty old bottles of dangerous chemicals? At NEDT, we’ve seen our fair share of old household chemicals passed down the generations or from old (very old) hobbies. Today, we’d like to show you some of the kinds of products that pass through our centers, how to locate these products at home, and your disposal options. Enjoy the gallery! [Read more…]
TV Disposal: Differences Between Old and New Monitors
Whether a computer monitor is past its prime or a newer flatscreen TV is being replaced in a media center overhaul, unneeded TVs and other electronics can start to pile up. Unlike other household products which can be easily recycled or thrown away, these electronics require specialized tv disposal. But what makes them hazardous household products and is either form of electronic waste (eWaste) more harmful than the other or needs additional care? [Read more…]
What are the At-Home Hazards of Fluorescent Lamps?
Fluorescent lamps, sometimes called fluorescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes, or compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), depending on the specific style, all share some basic features that make them hazardous when handling and disposing of them – namely their fragile nature and the chemical composition of the gases within that are held at a near-vacuum. Today, let’s go over what you need to know about the at-home hazards of fluorescent lamps and what you can do to minimize the risk of this household product. [Read more…]
