What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Some jobs around the home may require the use of products containing hazardous components. Such products may include certain paints, cleaners, stains and varnishes, car batteries, motor oil and pesticides..

The used or leftover contents of such consumer products are known as "household hazardous waste."

Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste per year. The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in the basement, garage and in storage closets. When improperly disposed of, household hazardous waste can create a potential risk to people and the environment.

What are the dangers of improper disposal?

Household hazardous wastes are sometimes disposed of improperly by individuals pouring wastes down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers or putting them out with the trash. The dangers of such disposal methods may not be immediately obvious, but certain types of household hazardous waste have the potential to cause physical injury to sanitation workers, contaminate septic tanks or wastewater treatments systems if poured down drains or toilets and present hazards to children and pets if left around the house.

While households do not have to separate household hazardous waste from trash under federal law, some states have special requirements.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days

During the 1980s, many communities started special collection days or permanent collection sites for handling household hazardous waste. On collection days, qualified professionals collect hazardous wastes at a central location to ensure safe waste disposal. More than 3,000 collection programs have been undertaken in the United States.

The Maryland Environmental Service has entered into a contract with Clean Venture, Inc., to provide collection and disposal of household hazardous waste through the State of Maryland.

Under this program, a county provides all supervision, labor and materials for the collection event. This includes the site(s) for the collection event, advertising the event in the service area and providing support services at its own cost. MES provides contracted services for the collection and proper disposal of household hazardous waste and additional labor necessary for the event through its contract with Clean Ventures, Inc.

During the fall of 2004, MES provided household hazardous waste programs to Frederick County, Wicomico County and the counties in the Midshore region.

To find out more about the program please contact Richard Keller at MES.