Household Hazardous Waste

Household Hazardous Waste

About Hazardous Waste

Many home and garden products are considered household hazardous waste (HHW).  Hazardous product labels often include the words caution, toxic, corrosive, pesticide, combustible, poison, flammable, warning, or danger. These products have a wide variety of uses in your household, but they can harm human health and the environment if used, stored or disposed of improperly. Never pour these products down the drain or onto the ground. And don't put them in your garbage cart. 

The following links provide more information about household hazardous wastes:

• Batteries
• Disposal Options
• Electronics
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs
• Medications
• Needles/Sharps
• Thermostats

Resources
List of Common Household Hazardous Wastes

See more about: appliances  batteries  cable tv  computer  electronics  hazardous waste  recycle  television  tires  

Batteries

Some batteries contain toxic metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, which can harm human health and the environment when batteries are improperly disposed. Size alone is not the best guide — some of the tiniest batteries are the most toxic.  When incinerated, certain metals might be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash...

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Electronics

Electronic waste, or e-waste, is any waste that has a circuit board or a cathode ray tube (CRT). E-waste includes items such as CD and MP3 players, radios, speakers, stereos, stereos receivers, remote controls, monitors, laptops, CPUs, home networking devices, keyboards, mice, printers, speakers, scanners, storage devices, fax machines, cell phones...

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Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Using energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs makes good sense—you save money on electric bills and help protect the environment. Often called a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), fluorescent bulbs include U-tube and circline fluorescent tubes, bug zappers, tanning bulbs, black lights, germicidal bulbs, high output bulbs, and cold-cathode...

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Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Hennepin County has two year-round drop-off facilities where residents can get rid of recyclables, electronics, appliances, household hazardous wastes and trash.  Trash is not accepted at Bloomington.

Brooklyn Park
Hennepin County Recycling Center and Transfer Station
8100 Jefferson Highway, Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Bloomington
South Hennepin Recycling and Problem Waste Drop-Off Center
1400 West 96th Street, Bloomington, MN 55431

See more about: garbage  hazardous waste  recycling  

Medications

Medications have traditionally been disposed of by flushing them down the toilet or a drain. Although this method of disposal prevents immediate accidental ingestion, it can cause pollution in wastewater, which has been demonstrated to cause adverse effects to fish and other aquatic wildlife. When the water is eventually reused, it can also cause unintentional...

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Needles/Sharps

NEVER PLACE LOOSE NEEDLES IN THE TRASH AND DO NOT RECYCLE THEM! 

In Minnesota, it is currently legal to dispose of used sharps in the garbage if they are put in a laundry detergent bottle (or similar type of rigid plastic container) with a lid.  However this is highly discouraged because of the injury and health risks it places on garbage haulers and processing facility workers.

Why are they a Problem?
It is important to manage and dispose of needles, lancets, and syringes (sharps) safely to prevent injury and disease transmission from needle-sticks.

Proper Disposal of Needles/Sharps
The preferred disposal method is to return the needles to your clinic or participate in a mail-back program. If these are not options, follow the guidelines below to properly dispose of your needles/sharps. Call Waste Management at (763) 783-5423 for more information. 

1. If you use a laundry detergent bottle or similar puncture-proof container:

• Label container "Do Not Recycle: Household Sharps"
• Put sharps in point-first
• Tape the cap with duct tape (or similar tape) to ensure the cap stays on during compaction and transport
• Place the container INSIDE your garbage cart ON TOP of bagged trash so it's visible to Waste Management drivers

2. A commercial sharps disposal container from a mail-back collection program reduces the risk of a sharps-related accident. It is very durable, clearly labeled, and closes securely. Follow the mail-back program instructions to return the container. 

3. Some clinics and hospitals have collection programs for needles, lancets, and syringes used by their patients at home. If your health care provider has a collection program, learn about and follow their instructions for sharps storage and disposal.

4. Needle-destruction devices such as one that incinerates the needle or one that cuts off the needle.

Additional Resources
Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal
Hennepin County's A to Z Guide
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
MPCA Factsheet on Safe Disposal Options for Sharps and Needles

See more about: drugs  medicine  needles  sharps  syringes  

Thermostats

Many thermostats contain mercury. Mercury is a concern because exposure to it can be harmful to humans and animals.  This shiny, silver metal was once widely used in manufacturing, agriculture and other industries.  It is now considered a dangerous pollutant.  Mercury is a neurotoxin that damages or destroys nerve tissue at high concentrations...

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