Free Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events to be held in October 2003!

What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?
Almost every home has hazardous waste stored in their basement, garage, or underneath sinks. In fact, the average home contains 60 to 100 pounds of stored hazardous chemicals. Household hazardous products are used in cleaning, lawn and garden care, automobile maintenance, and home improvement projects. Hazardous products include pesticides, fertilizers, thinners, motor oil, antifreeze, turpentine, pool chemicals, gasoline, mercury, etc. To find out if a product is hazardous, just look for key words on the label. Key words include: DANGER, POISON, WARNING, or CAUTION.

Why are HHW products a problem?
Household hazardous products pose a threat when improperly stored or disposed. Improper storage can cause accidental poisoning, especially in children. In 1999, 1.3 million Americans exposed to household chemicals were referred to poison control centers. 824,000 of these exposure victims were under the age of six.

Why can improper disposal cause health and environmental problems?
Throwing away hazardous waste in your garbage can injure your waste collector when the waste mixes with other materials in the garbage truck. Dumping hazardous waste down the drain interferes with the wastewater treatment process. Improper disposal can contaminate our groundwater

How do I safely dispose of my HHW?
The Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District will sponsor two, free household hazardous waste events this Fall. The events will be held on October 18th at Winton Woods High School and October 25th at Coney Island. Both events will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. These events are open to Hamilton County residents only! For more information, call the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at 946-7700 or click here.

Where can I get lesson plans to teach my students about household hazardous waste?
Grades 3-8 Language Arts and Science
Contact Sue Magness at 513-946-7736 and request the Home Safe Home Activity Packet. Appropriate for Grades 3-8. Includes a vocabulary list, teacher background information, and detailed lesson plans, aligned with 4th and 6th grade language arts-reading, and science proficiency test learning outcomes.

It's Easy to Recycle in Hamilton County!

In Hamilton County, 45 out of 49 municipalities (cities, villages, and townships) have a residential recycling program. Some communities offer curbside collection, while others have drop-off programs. Municipalities often include recycling fees in their taxes, while others offer individual subscriptions. A typical curbside recycling subscription is about $2.50 a month.

Stay Informed! Recycling rules change frequently, keep up-to-date by calling the Recycling Hotline (513-946-7766) or by visiting part of our website (click here) .

Useful Guide Recycling Guide
The How to Recycle In Hamilton County (click here) insert in this newsletter explains which items belong or don’t in a curbside bin. The guide is an excellent tool for teachers to use in the classroom. Make copies to send home with your students or for a classroom set, contact Errin Howard at (513) 946-7737.