Hazardous household wastes are substances which: May be harmful to you, animals or the environment when not handled properly. They can be in the form of a solid, liquid or gas and can result in the pollution of groundwater, lakes, rivers, and soil when disposed of improperly.
When it comes to protecting our groundwater, we would do well to remember Ben Franklin’s sage advice: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Without realizing it, homeowners can become contributors to the contamination of their drinking water. Fertilizers, pesticides, paint thinners, and engine oils are all examples of possible contaminants that can enter groundwater right from your own backyard.
What You Should Do?
To protect your family and the environment, follow these three steps.
1. Buy Products Wisely
- Read the label and buy non-toxic alternatives or less toxic products.
- Buy only what you need for the job to avoid leftover product.
2. When you do buy hazardous products, store them safely.
- Close lids tightly so products will not dry out, evaporate or leak.
- Store products in cool, dry area away from sources of heat, spark or flame.
- Store products in original container with label intact.
- Separate flammables, corrosives, and poisons; store them on separate shelves.
- If a container is deteriorating, place the entire container in resealable glass or plastic container,
surrounded with non-flammable absorbent, such as cat litter or vermiculite and bring it to
your local household hazardous waste collection event.
3. Use Products Safely
- Read the label carefully before use and follow directions.
- Use only the recommended amount.
- Never mix products.
- Use products in well ventilated rooms and avoid breathing fumes.
What About Waste?
Every effort should be made to minimize the waste. If you can not use the product up so there’s
no disposal, you might share what you cannot use with a friend or take it to a swap center if
available. You may also be able to recycle the waste; most towns now accept used oil for
recycling. Usable items, such as paint, may be donated to local service organizations.
If you still can’t get rid of your wastes, don’t burn, bury, pour on ground, pour down drain, or
discard them in the trash. Some of these activities may even violate federal, state or local
regulations. You should store these wastes safely and bring them to a local household hazardous
waste collection.
Proper management of household hazardous products during use, storage and disposal should be
everyone’s concern. Your actions to reduce the use of these products wherever possible, to
reduce the amount of waste generated, and to properly dispose of all household hazardous wastes
will help safeguard your family’s health and the environment.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
To prevent potential problems, household hazardous waste collection programs are available in
most New Hampshire communities. Generally, collection programs are offered once or twice a
year free of charge to residents of participating towns. By safely storing your hazardous wastes,
and bringing them to your local collection site, you are making sure your wastes are transported
and disposed of by licensed facilities in a manner which prevents environmental pollution.
For information on your town’s next collection day call Merrimack’s town office, visit the NH DES’s website for the Household Hazardous Waste Program, or call the NHDES at 603-271-2047
for more information.
Additional Information
For more information regarding household hazardous waste, please contact hhw@des.nh.gov or
call (603) 271-2047. For information on our website, go to
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p2au/pps/hhwp/index.htm