How to Get Rid Of: Household Hazardous Waste

Some household waste is easy enough to get rid of: food leftovers can be either thrown out or composted, cardboard, paper and plastic will get picked up by your municipal garbage collection service. There are many materials used in a home, however, that cannot be disposed of so easily. Hazardous household waste, if mixed in with ordinary refuse, can leach into groundwater, pollute runoff and create serious ecological problems for both people and wildlife.

The types of hazardous waste in your home are many and varied. Fluorescent lightbulbs contain a certain quantity of mercury, and many municipalities have laws against their wanton disposal. It’s well-known that batteries need to be collected and managed separately, since the acid inside can leak and poison everything around. There’s also the issue of paint, cleaning products and other chemicals that are dangerous either by themselves, or may react when combined with other substances.

Small quantities of hazardous waste can be recycled at collection stations in many retail stores; for example, there are special receptacles for batteries and printer cartridges at electronics retailers such as Staples and Best Buy. Many manufacturers of laser printer toners also have return/recycle programs for their products. However, you may find yourself with a large quantity of hazardous waste that can’t be disposed of in such ways – for instance, a large amount of fiberglass insulation that’s been removed in the process of renovation, or bags of lead-based paint that was stripped from walls, or asbestos insulation. In that case, you may need to look into renting a dumpster to contain and dispose of all this waste. By calling Dumpster Rental USA, you will get peace of mind when it comes to hazardous waste disposal: our company will deliver a dumpster of the appropriate size, then pick it up and manage the dangerous waste according to the most stringent environmental standards.