[Draft] California Bans Households Common Hazardous Waste Items into the Trash

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[Draft] California Bans Households Common Hazardous Waste Items into the

Trash

By Abdul H. Khalid PhD, Chemical Engineer

In a memorandum of January 10, 2006, the California Department of Toxic

Substances Control (DTSC) announced that it would not allow households

and " Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Universal Waste Generators

(CESQUWGs) " to dispose some of their hazardous wastes into the trash.

Previously, the homeowners were allowed to dispose of their universal

wastes such as batteries, small electronic devices, fluorescent lights,

and mercury thermostats in the trash until February 8, 2006. Under the

new rule, effective February 9, 2006, theses regulations have been

changed and the households common hazardous waste items can no longer be

placed into the trash.

Common households products that are used in our daily lives may contain

potentially hazardous ingredients and may require special precautions

when they are finally disposed of. Under the new California hazardous

waste and universal wastes regulations, it is illegal to dispose of

household hazardous waste items in the garbage/trash, down storm drains,

or into ground. These hazardous wastes so called common household

hazardous waste items have potential to be released into the environment

and may contaminate the nation's land, air, and groundwater.

In compliance with the New Trash Rules as effective February 9, 2006,

the following common items are banned in the trash and are listed below:

* All fluorescent lamps and tubes: Fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent

lamps, metal halide lamps, and sodium vapor lamps.

* All batteries: AAA, AA, C, D, button cell, 9-volt, rechargeable and single

use, lead-acid batteries used in cars.

* All electronic devices: Cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal

diode (LCD), and plasma monitors etc.

* Thermostats that contain mercury: Mercury switches, barometers, mercury

thermometers etc.

* Household and landscape chemicals: Oil based paints, reactive

and explosive materials, some pool chemicals, cleaners, pesticides, and

herbicides.

* Paints and Solvents: Latex paint, paint thinners, finger and nail polish

remover etc.

* Building materials: Asbestos, treated wood.

* Automobile-related: Antifreeze, batteries, motor oils, filters.

* Compress gas cylinders: Propane tanks used for BBQ or plumbing etc.

* Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) containing materials: Paint and ballasts

containing PCBs.

* Photo wastes: (containing silver)

* Non-empty cans: Aerosol cans also included, use California definition for

an empty can.

For more information, visit DTSC's web site at: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov

or e-mail at: uwaste@... or phone: 1- 0r

1-800-72-TOXIC.

Reference: California Zero waste web site at:

http://www.zerowaste.ca.gov/

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END Forwarded on behalf of Abdul H. Khalid PhD, Chemical Engineer (Friday,

April 28, 2006)

Email: Abdul.Khalid@...