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Storing Hazardous Chemicals Safely |
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Recycling Department
2nd Floor Mayfield Annex
625 Walnut Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-209-6480
FAX 423-209-6481
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| Your home could be a warehouse for hazardous materials.
The US. EPA estimates that the average household generates 20 pounds of
(HHW) per year & stores up to 100 pounds. |
| Classifying Hazardous Materials |
The following are 4 major classifications of hazardous
materials:
Corrosive materials can dissolve or wear away a container. Also, most
of the materials that are corrosive to containers are potentially dangerous
to the skin and eyes of humans and animals. A few common corrosives
include metal cleaners with phosphoric acid, drain cleaners that contain
sulfuric acid, rust removers with hydrofluoric acid, and drain cleaners
containing sodium hydroxide or lye.
Flammable items post a serious threat of fire if stored improperly.
Many of these items indicate, "Do not store near heat" or "Keep in cool,
dry place."
- Explosive or Reactive Materials—
These materials can explode when combined with other substances. They
may also react violent in other ways i.e., with bleach and many dish
detergents that contain chlorine bleach mixed with ammonia, lye, or
acids the combination can produce toxic gases.
Toxic materials are those materials that, in sufficient quantities,
pose a hazard to human health. They are sometimes identified with the
symbol of skull and crossbones. Most cupboards and closet are full of
potentially toxic materials, from air fresheners and carpet deodorizers
to mothballs and oven cleaners. Toxic materials can often be used safely;
however, they can be beneficial or even necessary to the body, as in
the case of some vitamins or medicines.
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| Storing Hazardous Materials (HM)
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| To reduce the amount of HM in storage, buy only the amount
that you need for the job. Store products with safety closures whenever
possible. Store HM in their original containers. That way you can ID the
products in case of poisoning. Keep product labels in place, If the label
is peeling off, reattach it with transparent tape. Do not store pressurized
containers (such as aerosols) in the sun, in your car’s glove box, or near
other heat sources that may cause the container to explode. Also, do not
store pressurized containers in wet or damp areas because a can that rusts
may rupture or leak. Keep a bag of cat litter, sand or sawdust near the storage
area to soak up any spilled chemicals from a broken or leaking container.
Keep a separate broom and dustpan handy for chemical cleanup and do not
use them for any other purpose. |
| Added Precautions for Flammable Materials
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| Fuel—Flammable products such as gasoline,
kerosene, propane gas, and paint thinner should be stored in approved containers
in the garage. Never inside the house. A well-ventilated garage
will reduce the risk that vapors given off by flammable liquids might ignite. Also,
when storing fuel, do not fill the container to capacity. Leaving some space
will allow room for the fuel to expand during hot weather.
Pesticides—Many
liquid pesticides contain a petroleum-based carrier or solvent and therefore
pose a fire hazard. Store these pesticides in a garage under lock and key—not
in the house. To determine the flammability of a pesticide, check the label.
If a pesticide is flammable and must be stored in a garage, be aware that
temperatures below freezing can cause the pesticide to separate from the
solvent; in many cases this makes the chemical ineffective. This problem
underscores the importance of only buying the amount you need for the job. |
| Dispose of Pesticides Safely |
| Do not dump pesticides on the ground because doing so can
contaminate groundwater. Do not place them in the garbage because they could
injure trash collectors and contaminate your environment. |
| Disposing of Leftover Pesticide Concentrate
and Mix |
| Try to purchase only the amount of pesticide that you need
for a job so you don’t have any leftover chemical. But if you end up with
excess pesticide concentrate, dilute it as directed on the label; then apply
it to an area listed on the label.In "using up" a pesticide, however, do
not overuse it. Do not apply more than is recommended on the label, or you
could damage both the environment and the plant you are trying to protect.
Overuse also increases your own exposure to these toxic chemicals. |
| Disposing of Liquid Containers and Rinse Water |
An empty pesticide container is not as empty as
you might think; a significant amount of pesticide residue can remain inside
it. Therefore, you must take certain precautions before you toss an empty
container of liquid pesticide into the trash. Follow this triple-rinse procedure:
When you are down to the last amount of pesticide concentrate, drain
the pesticide container into your spray tank for at least 30 minutes.
Fill the empty container 1/5 to ¼ full of water. Rinse thoroughly.
Use this rinse water as dilution water for the pesticide concentrate
in the sprayer. If the dilution rate allows you to pour all of the rinse
water into the sprayer, drain it into the sprayer for at least 30 seconds.
Follow the procedure in steps 2 and 3 two more times.
Spray the pesticide mixture on areas listed on the label. Do not exceed
the label’s application rate.
Triple-rinse containers as soon as they are emptied during the mixing/filling
stage. If you wait until later, pesticide residue can dry inside the container,
making it difficult to clean with triple rinsing. Also, be sure to wear
protective clothing when triple-rinsing.If you still have some rinse
water left over after using it to dilute pesticide concentrate, spray it
on areas listed on the label. You can do the same with rinse water used
to clean the sprayer. However, do not exceed the rates specified on the
label, and do not dump rinse water down a drain or on the ground.
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| What to do with Dry Pesticide Containers |
| Empty dry pesticide bags simply need to be emptied completely
before discarding in the trash. |
| Disposing of Paint & Solvents Safely |
| Most paints contain solvents & metals that are hazardous
to the environment. However, an exception to this is the new solvent-free
paint. Latex & oil based paints should not go to the land fill, nor should
they be dumped in storm sewers, household drains, or on the ground. |
| Here Are Some Ways You Can Dispose of Your Old
Paint |
Use it up—Try to buy the amount of paint that you need,
and then use it up. Oil-based paint can stay in good shape for about 10 years,
whereas latex paint can last about 10 years. The paint is probably still
good if it is labeled fills about ½ of the container, hasn’t been frozen
repeatedly, and mixes when stirred. If latex paint has been frozen, brush
it on some newspaper. It there are no lumps, you can use it. Donate it to
others—If you are unable to use up your paint, donate it to friends, relatives,
churches, recreation departments, community service organizations, schools
or theatrical groups. As a Last Resort: Dry out latex paint—if you cannot
use or donate latex paint you can dry out the paint & toss in the trash. Do
NOT dry out oil based paint because the fumes
are hazardous. DO NOT put oil-based paint in the trash. Dry out latex
paint in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets and rain. It may
take some time for the paint to dry, depending on the type and amount you
are dealing with. If the Can Contains Small Amounts of Latex Paint:
Step 1.
Remove the lid and stir the paint to speed
drying.
Step
2. Allow the leftover paint in the bottom of the
can to
dry out. Periodically stir the paint. If the Can Contains Large Quantities
of Latex Paint: Brush paint in layers on newspaper or cardboard. Or pour 1-inch
layers on paint into a cardboard box lined with plastic. Allow the paint
to dry one layer at a time. Or mix the paint with cat litter, sawdust or
sand in a cardboard box lined with plastic. Let it dry. |
| If Latex Paint Has Separated Step 1. Pour the clear liquid
on tip into a cardboard
box lined
with plastic. Step 2. Mix the liquid with an equal amount of
cat
litter or other absorbent material Step 3. Allow the leftover paint
in the bottom of
the
can to dry out. |
| Paint Thinner and Other Solvents |
| Solvents are products used to dissolve other substances.
Many solvents are poisonous and flammable, and they pose hazards to groundwater
and surface water. Use it Up! This is always the preferable option. Reuse
solvent that has been dirtied with paint. There are ways you can reuse the
solvent used to clean paintbrushes. Let used turpentine or brush cleaners
sit in a closed container until the paint particles settle out (this could
take a while). Next, pour off the clear liquid, which can be reused. Add
an absorbent such as cat litter to the remaining residue, and let it dry
completely. Before you do this, however, make sure you know where you can
dispose of the dried residue. |
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Source: 57 Ways To Protect Your Home Environment
(and yourself) produced by Information Services, College of Ag. Cons. &
Environ. SC. |
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