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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2001
Contact:
Rusty Lundberg, Solid Waste Branch Manager, 801-538-6765
David Wheeler, Environmental Scientist, Used Oil Recycling, 801-538-9997
Jay Richardson, Environmental Scientist, Household Hazardous Waste, 801-538-6313
Springtime has knocked at your door and you are gearing up for traditional spring cleaning and gardening. This time of year serves as a good reminder that many of the everyday household products you use for cleaning and gardening can be potentially harmful to your health and environment if you do not use, store and dispose of them properly.
Many Utahns use cleaners for the oven and tub, drain openers, stain removers, bleach, household batteries, air fresheners, fingernail polish and polish remover, disinfectants, furniture polish and aerosol sprays in their homes every day. Fertilizer, insecticides, gasoline for the lawn mower and paint garnish garages. Common fixtures in today's homes include computers, smoke detectors and fluorescent light bulbs.
The typical household contains more than 100 items listed as hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When discarded, these products are called household hazardous waste because they are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. Many common household products contain chemicals that are toxic, flammable or corrosive. The EPA estimates that the average household generates 20 pounds of household hazardous waste each year.
"As waste, these products must be handled with care and disposed of properly. Pouring them down the drain or on the ground or throwing them in the garbage can contaminate water supplies, damage water treatment systems or generate hazardous emissions at landfills," Environmental Scientist Jay Richardson said.
Additionally, chemicals in these products can irritate eyes, skin and mucous membranes in the nose, throat and lungs. They can be harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
To minimize health and environmental impacts, residents should take their household hazardous waste to their community collection center for proper disposal. Many cities and counties have collection centers that regularly accept waste or at least designate collection days once or twice a year.
To find out if your community has a household hazardous waste program, visit www.deq.state.ut.us/eqshw/guide1.htm or contact your local health department. Also available on this website is a Guide to Household Hazardous Waste. It describes common household hazardous products, possible alternatives, recycling or reusing options and methods for storage and disposal.
In addition, collection centers are available to specifically collect another common household waste: used oil. In Utah, approximately 50 percent of vehicle owners change the oil in their vehicles themselves. That's about two million gallons of used oil generated each year. Last year, centers collected 369,000 gallons. Since the program began eight years ago, a total of 1,800,000 gallons have been collected. While a phenomenal improvement, more used oil could and should be recycled.
"Used oil is a valuable natural resource that can be recycled. Recycling used oil decreases our dependency on foreign oil and prevents pollution of soil and water," Used Oil Recycling Program Manager Cheryl Prawl said.
It is illegal to dump used oil on the ground, down storm drains or in the garbage because it can contaminate ground water supplies which may be used for drinking water. To put this in perspective, one gallon of used oil has the potential of contaminating up to one million gallons of fresh water — a year's supply for 50 people.
A county-by-county list of used oil collection centers is available online at www.deq.state.ut.us/eqshw/UsedOil/reports.htm. You can also call the DEQ Hotline at 1-800-458-0145 for help in locating a collection center near you. There is no charge for dropping off used oil. When taking your used oil to a collection center, you should put it in a clean, leak proof container. For more information on the Used Oil Recycling Program, visit www.deq.state.ut.us/eqshw/UsedOil/frames.htm
April is Public Health Month. "Utah's Public Health is for Everybody, Everyday and Everywhere."
Quick tips for proper use, storage and disposal of household hazardous waste:
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