
by Jourdan Rassás
Earth911.org
Household Hazardous Waste is any product that is discarded from a home or a similar source that contains volatile chemicals that are:
Ignitable: capable of burning or causing a fire
Corrosive: capable of eating away materials and destroying living tissue when contact occurs
Explosive and/or Reactive: capable of causing an explosion or releasing poisonous fumes when exposed to air, water or other chemicals
Toxic: poisonous, either immediately or over a long period of time
Radioactive: capable of damaging and destroying cells and chromosomal material
Some examples of HHW are used motor oil, oil-based paint, auto batteries, gasoline and pesticides. The term HHW refers specifically to those products used in and around the common household, not used for any industrial purpose. These products can be harmful to the environment if they are not disposed of properly, which means they should not be dumped down the drain, and empty or partially empty hazardous waste containers should not be thrown in the garbage. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year. The average home alone can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW in basements, garages and storage closets.
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