Dispose of unnecessary household chemicals - brittag/maintenance GitHub Wiki
| Aspect | Info |
|---|---|
| Context | Residence |
| Date started | 2019-05 |
| Date finished | 2019-05 |
| Status | Complete |
| Summary of outcome | Success |
Background
According to San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) training, firefighters want people to minimize the number and amount of hazardous chemicals they keep in their homes. If firefighters are trying to put out a fire in your home, the collection of solvents and aerosols under your kitchen sink or in your garage becomes a safety problem for both you and them.
Problem
When I learned about this, I lived in a household that had lots of leftover chemicals: solvents, polishes, bug sprays, etc. Present and former housemates had stuck them in the cabinet under the sink and other storage areas in case they might be useful later, or because they didn't know what else to do with them.
Approach
Apply a bit of KonMari method:
- Gather up all items, including from storage areas like garages, that could qualify as household hazardous waste: "can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic".
- Put them in one place for review.
- Group duplicates and similar items.
- Household members decide what they need to keep.
- Put away the items to keep.
For the rest of the stuff, look up your city or county instructions for disposal of household hazardous waste. Typically there's a dropoff location.
Outcome
I accidentally made the San Francisco household hazardous waste facility staff unhappy by taking the bus there and showing up on foot with a box of stuff. They accepted my box but asked me not to do that again; they require people to drive through the facility in a car to drop off household hazardous waste. Sorry! For people like me who can't drive or don't have a car, they recommend scheduling a household hazardous waste pickup. Not every area offers that option, so you might need to ask for a favor from a friend.
Next steps
Review your stash of chemicals periodically, depending on how quickly your household gathers this type of stuff.