Give in to your desire to declutter, but don’t add dangerous waste to the outside world! That may sound strange, but it’s a real concern. Some forms of trash simply don’t belong in the same bin as the usual food scraps, paper products, and general nontoxic waste that households typically generate. Every house has its share of products that may not be as deadly or toxic as nuclear waste but that can still cause damage to the environment. We’ve covered the 10 things to get rid of during any decluttering session. Now, let’s address the four kinds of waste you might be improperly throwing away and what to do with them.
1. Batteries Matter
Batteries seem so small and harmless, but each one contains a collection of chemicals that can hurt the ecosystem or start fires. Collect your batteries in a small bin. Eventually, see if your community has a household hazardous waste disposal center. Recycling-by-mail sites are available online as well. Fortunately, car batteries are somewhat easier to get rid of. Auto supply stores and mechanics often have programs that take your old car batteries and send them off for safe recycling.
2. On Pills & Needles
If you have old and expired medicines, don’t toss them in the trash or pour them down the drain. The same goes for disposable syringes for the treatment of diabetes and other conditions. Consider how hospitals dispose of medical waste. Needles and similar sharp articles that have encountered blood and other bodily fluids need to go into a bright-red sealable sharps container. Old pills and other medicines can usually end up in a container at your local police station, city hall, or some other public place.
3. Pesky Paints
You just finished redecorating, and your freshly painted living room or wherever looks exquisite. Now, what do you do with the leftover paint? Water-based paint is safe to toss out with the regular trash, but be sure to add kitty litter or sand to the cans to soak up the excess. On the other hand, oil-based paints, stains, varnishes, and the like are less safe. You should take these to a hazardous waste site in your community for disposal.
4. Can It!
Here’s the last of our four kinds of waste you might be improperly throwing away: aerosol cans. Though certainly handy when it comes to delivering hairspray, paint, pesticides, cleaning products, and more, they aren’t so handy afterward. While a completely empty can is perfectly safe to throw away (or better yet, recycle), few aerosol cans are completely empty. Most aerosolized products are flammable and can explode or cause fires if improperly disposed of and crushed. Collect cans and bring them to a hazardous waste facility, where they should have the equipment to puncture and drain old cans safely.
