Disposing of Household Nasties - Safely

Wondering what to do with all those chemical nasties lurking in your cupboards? Here's how to dispose of them safely.

Next time you have a big clean-up, stop and consider what happens to all those old medicines, pesticides, pool chemicals, cleaners, paint thinners and batteries after you've thrown them in the bin or down the sink, or hosed them down the gutter.

Some chemicals become more dangerous when mixed with other chemicals, food scraps or even just water. Some things are hazardous because they contain heavy metals and other poisons that contaminate soil and pollute waterways.

Flammable chemicals and sharp objects pose a serious risk to others -- such as waste collectors and handlers, children and curious animals -- when they're sitting in your garbage bin and going into the garbage truck.

Clearly you don't want all these nasties sitting around your house either, endangering the health and safety of you and your family. So what do you do with them?

The following are some health and environmental hazards associated with products commonly found in the home, and options for their safe disposal.

Paint and related products

Paints, thinners, varnish, wood stain, solvents, methylated spirits, turps, glues and fillers.

The problems:

• They can be highly flammable.
• They can give off toxic fumes when they evaporate or burn.
• They can be toxic to plant, animal and aquatic life, as well as people.
• Aerosol cans are potentially explosive if heated or punctured.
• Oil-based paints contain flammable solvents, and brushes have to be cleaned with turps, another disposal problem.

The solutions:

• Use water-based paints rather than oil-based whenever possible.
• Calculate the area to be painted, and buy the smallest tin of paint that will meet your needs.
• Never pour these products down the sink or an outside drain.
• Use up the products, or give them to friends or neighbours who can use them. There may be a paint collection centre near you for community projects.
• Old paint that has hardened can be thrown out with your normal garbage. Leave the lid off the tin if there isn't much left (preferably outside, so the fumes don't cause harm), or pour it over newspaper, let it dry, then throw it away.
• If none of these options is practical, phone your local council for advice.

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