Or maybe it’s that stuff collecting dust in the corner of the garage. You know what we’re talking about: rusting cans of paint (did you really paint the walls that color?), fertilizer that’s so old it has hardened into a brick, drain cleaner that they don’t even make anymore, unlabeled jars of something you can’t remember saving. Just know that you are not alone! The average American household stores a whopping 100 pounds of household hazardous waste within the home. The problem is that when it’s time to do some spring cleaning, many of these products should not be thrown away in the regular household trash, or may need to be handled in a specific way first. Bringing those items that will be accepted to a Household Hazardous Waste Day event is a great option for proper disposal. But the best long term solution is to carefully plan out what you need to accomplish a task or complete a project, buy the least toxic product available, and only purchase what is needed to get the job
done. If you buy a product in a large quantity, be sure that you will be able to use it all over a set period of time. It’s also important to pay attention to how the container should be discarded when it is empty. In some cases, empty containers that contained chemicals such as pesticides should carefully be rinsed and the resulting diluted product properly used before the container is recycled or discarded according to package directions.
What’s Happening?
AL People Against a Littered State (PALS) Spring Cleanup – Want to make a difference in your community? Consider organizing or participating in a volunteer roadside litter cleanup. Last year, 1009 volunteers participated in 35 cleanups, removing 65 tons of litter and trash from roadways in unincorporated Jefferson County. Several of these volunteers received statewide awards for their efforts. Cleanup resources such as flyers, gloves, bags, safety t-shirts, traffic control and trash disposal are available for FREE to unincorporated Jefferson County Communities. Call 325-8741 to learn how your community can participate.
Household Hazardous Waste Day – March 19 – McClendon Park, Legion Field – 9 am – 12 noon (or until capacity is met) – It’s estimated that Americans generate an astonishing 530,000 tons of household hazardous waste every year. Now’s the time to root through your garage, peek under the kitchen sink, and gather up items for proper disposal at Household Hazardous Waste Day. FREE and open to all Jefferson County residents. Find out what items will be accepted by visiting facebook.com/JeffersonCountyAL or by calling 325-8741.
