Here are some frequently asked questions
when it comes to Household Hazardous Waste:
Q: What is HHW? A: Many common chemical products found in the home,
garage, workshop, and garden contain hazardous ingredients which
need to be used, stored and disposed of responsibly and safely.
"Household Hazardous Waste" (HHW) is that portion of a
household product which is no longer usable, leftover, or not wanted
and has to be disposed of. HHW can be described as discarded solid
or liquid materials or containers holding gases which may cause
an adverse, harmful or damaging biological effect in an organism
or the environment.
Q: How can you
tell if a product is hazardous? A: A product is to be considered hazardous if it
is flammable, if it reacts or explodes when mixed with other substances,
if it is corrosive or if it is toxic. Some items like paint thinner
and car batteries are obviously hazardous, but many products such
as polishes, insecticides and glues are overlooked and not commonly
recognized as hazardous.
Q: How does
HHW affect your health? A: Here is a sample list of a few items that most
have around the home and what negative effects they have on us and
our environment:
Glass Cleaners
- emit ammonia that you breathe. Ammonia is toxic, but many glass
containers do not carry a warning label.
Aerosol Cans -
no longer contain CFCs, but do contain isobutene, propane and butane.
Studies have shown these chemicals to be toxic to the heart and
nervous system of animals. Aerosol cans may also contain toxic solvents
such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol which are
"volatile organic compounds" that can contaminate ground
and surface water as well as contribute to global warming.
Drain Cleaners
- contain lye, hydrochloric and sulphuric acids which can burn human
tissue and cause permanent damage. If not used according to the
directions, they can also explode.
Toilet Bowl Cleaners
- contain chlorine and hydrochloric acid which can burn the eyes
and skin. Swallowing these products can be fatal. The fumes can
corrode metal, and fumes may even escape from closed containers.
Home and Garden Pesticides
- can increase the risk of leukemia in children, according to the
National Cancer Institute. Many pesticides have been linked to birth
defects and cancer. Even though we use them outside, rain washes
pesticides and herbicides into the ground water which may turn up
in our drinking water.
All-Purpose Cleaners
- contain ammonia or chlorine, which can irritate the lungs, causing
shortness of breath and coughing. Chlorine forms cancer-causing
compounds when released into the environment. When the two chemicals
are mixed, they form deadly chloramines gas.
Q: Why bring items to a special
HHW collection? A: Bringing your HHW to a special collection is the
most responsible way to dispose of toxic household chemicals. Whether
it be a bottle of window cleaner or a bottle of mercury, bringing
the chemicals to the waste collection event will ensure that they
are properly handled and disposed of in a way that is most conscientious
towards our environment.
Q: But really, how many of
these chemicals are around my house? A: The average household contains as much as 100
pounds of hazardous waste. Products are typically found in five areas
of the home: kitchens, bathrooms, garages, workshops and gardens.
Q: How safe is the collection
area with all of these chemicals around? A: The site will be very safe. Only trained personnel
will collect and transport the items that you bring. In fact, we ask
that you remain in your vehicle while the staff removes the items.
Whether you realize it or not, handling HHW for any period of time
can have negative effects on our lives. During the collection process,
the only handling we ask that you do is to load materials into your
car to transport to the site.
Q:How much
does this event cost? A: Although the cost of the event itself is upwards
of $30,000, the collected items will be charged at a rate of $2 per
gallon. The partnerships between the Cambria County Solid Waste Authority,
Southwestern PA HHW Task Force, and the Pennsylvania Resources Council
make this event available to the public through grants and donations
from public and private sources.
Q: If I have more questions,
who do I contact? A: For more information on HHW, visit www.swpahhw.org.
For questions on the collections in Cambria County, see the CCSWA
contact information by clicking here.
