Practice Responsible Hazardous Waste Management In Your Home
Waste materials must be responsibly disposed of so that they do not become a hazard to human life or the environment. People may not realize that some of the most hazardous materials are lying around in their homes in the form of paint, aerosol cans and products they use to clean their homes. You should not dispose of these containers in your regular garbage cans. Keep a separate trash can or garbage bag so that waste technicians can collect hazardous waste and drop it off at collection stations. Practice responsible hazardous waste management in your home that protects you and your family as well as the environment.
Where Should You Be Storing Hazardous Material?
If you're living in apartments, it's of course difficult to store your cleaning fluids and other aerosol cleaning products in an outside shed. If you've also rented a garage, then you can use the space to store chemical products on the highest top shelf. If there are no more remaining garages for rent, purchase a wooden box where you can store away your cleaning agents and lock the box. Make sure that the bottles and cans are secured and tightly closed when they're not in use. Items that are not hazardous can be placed in a plastic basket underneath your kitchen or bathroom sinks when your child is of an age to understand that the items should not be opened by them.
Give Toddlers No Access To Finding Hazardous Cleaners
If you have toddlers or other small children who run about from room to room, purchase a wooden box that can be locked. Store all of your cleaning chemicals in the box until they're ready for use. Do not leave the box unlocked for a second or leave the keys to the box lying around outside the box. While a toddler may not be able to climb up to find the keys and use them, a 4-year old will find the key on a key ring that's left out in the open. That child may possibly open the box, open a bottle, and proceed to drink its contents.
Dangerous Chemicals In Bathrooms
Some of the most dangerous chemical cleaners are stored in your bathrooms. There are toilet bowl cleaners that contain acid as well as poisonous and corrosive ingredients. Antibacterial cleaners are just as grossly poisonous, and they contain ingredients such as ammonia and phenol. Contents inside the containers may overflow when you pour out liquid from them. Liquid will remain on the outside of plastic bottles. That begins corrosion that can cause leaks. Examine the containers periodically and get rid of them if they have been half-filled for a long time. Empty the contents and rinse the containers out. Dry and store the bottles with attached labels that explain what was in each container before you arrange for a recycling pick-up.