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Household Hazardous Wastes And Our Water Supply

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ISU Extension Publication #: Pm-1334f
Author: Janis Stone, Extension Specialist,
Textiles and Clothing Department, Iowa State University
Date: September 1988
Content reviewed 5/95 by Dr. Tom Glanville, Department of
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University


The majority of Iowans get their drinking water from wells.  These wells reach deep into the earth to groundwater aquifers. Effective and economical technology to clean these aquifers, if they get contaminated, does not presently exist.

We must understand the relationship between what we do with household hazardous wastes and groundwater quality if we are to protect these sources of our drinking water.

Leftovers Create Waste
As we buy products it's easy to forget that some household chemicals can cause disposal problems that may lead to a bad effect on drinking water, later. Control of such problems begins with purchase. Only a small amount of total waste from a typical household is actually hazardous. But, when wastes from all households are added together, the amount can have a significant environmental effect.

Common household chemical products such as cleaners, waxes and polishes, motor oils, solvents, lawn and garden pesticides, and even art supplies and photographic chemicals, often have ingredients that cause them to be considered hazardous materials.1  Hazardous wastes combined at landfills can endanger workers and property, trickle into nearby streams, or seep through the soil to contaminated groundwater.

What Household Materials Are Considered Hazardous?
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency consider that materials are hazardous if they are:

* Corrosive - That is, eat away materials or living tissue through chemical action
* Ignitable - Easily catch fire or are flammable
* Toxic -  Poisonous if eaten, breathed, or if absorbed into the skin
* Reactive - Able to react with other substances to cause rapid heating or explosion

Laundry detergents, soaps, dishwashing compounds, cosmetics, personal care products, and medicines are toxic if improperly used, but these are specifically exempted in Iowa.

Watch for Hazardous Ingredients as You Shop
In Iowa stores, it's easy to identify products that have ingredients considered hazardous, because stores must post this logo (Figure)  on display shelves next to the price markers.

Stores that sell automotive supplies, cleaners, oil-based paints, solvents, pesticides, and waxes and polishes not only have this logo on shelves, but also have a bright yellow Household Hazardous  Materials poster mounted near the sales area along with a free educational leaflet for customers to take home.  The next time you are in a store, look for the logo and the poster.

Be alter to key words and phrases on household product labels that show you if the chemical ingredients that are unfamiliar to you are hazardous. Look for these words or phrases:
* CAUTION: Eye Irritant
* WARNING
* DANGER
* Caustic
* Corrosive
* Flammable
* Volatile
* Skull and crossbones symbol
* Keep out of the reach of children
* Poison; harmful if swallowed
* Skin irritant; wear rubber gloves

Companies manufacturing household chemicals usually want families to use their products safely and often include a toll-free emergency number on the label to call in case of emergency.

Responsible Use and Disposal of Household Wastes
Responsible disposal starts with buying habits.  If you buy only the amount you can use, then all you have left to dispose of is the empty container which can probably go to a landfill. Choosing a less toxic alternative, as in the case of pesticides, may also help. Any products with warnings listed previously, must be stored out of the reach of children.

When you have old leftovers, disposal is a problem.  Although state law does not prohibit individual households from adding these things to the garbage, individual cities or collection agencies may have rules against this.  Even if it is not illegal to put hazardous materials in the garbage, it is not good for landfills and the environment. This makes responsible disposal of household hazardous wastes a real concern.

Toxic Clean-Up Days
The Iowa Groundwater Protection Act of 1987 has provided for Toxic Clean-Up Days, to encourage communities to organize collection days where people can bring old or leftover corrosive, flammable, toxic, or reactive household products for disposal. Pilot programs conducted in a few counties show that Iowans are eager for this opportunity.  However, one-day clean-up program not only require advance planning and community cooperation, but also they are expensive. Wastes must be sorted, packed, and transported to an EPA approved waste handling facility in another state because there are no hazardous waste sites in Iowa.  Clean-Up Days are only part of the solution.

Ways You Can Help
Every Iowan has an opportunity to do something about reducing household hazardous waste disposal problems. Use this check list to decide actions you can take to help minimize waste problems and protect our groundwater.

_____ Buy the right product for your task. Read the label to be sure.
_____ Try to find the least toxic products to buy.
_____ Buy only the amount that you can use completely.
_____ Use products according to the label. Applying more is not better.
_____ Find out and follow your trash collector's disposal guidelines.
_____ Recycle oil and batteries when possible
_____ Never throw hazardous wastes in ditches, gullies, or sink holes.
_____ Learn more about waste disposal issues.
_____ Help form a committee in your community to sponsor a Toxic  Clean-Up Day.
_____ Bring you household hazardous wastes to Toxic Clean-Up Day when you have a chance.
_____ Call the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with your waste disposal questions. 
Telephone 1-800-532-1114

If everybody takes action now, Iowa Groundwater will remain safe for future generations.

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1 A Survey of Household Hazardous Wastes and Related Collection Programs. 530 SW-86-038. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Washington D.C. 20460. October, 1986. PB 87-108072.
 

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