Our environment thanks you, the more than 700 citizens of Baltimore County, that brought their car and truck loads of waste material to the Household Hazardous Waste Event on Sunday, April 13, 2008. Until the next event, residents may take their hazardous waste materials to the Days Cove Landfill, located in eastern Baltimore County. Materials will be accepted at this site April through November, see the schedule below.
The average household contains between three and ten gallons of waste materials that are hazardous to human health or to the environment. Collectively, these materials can create serious health and safety risks or contaminate our goundwater, surface waters or the air we breath if they are not stored carefully and disposed of properly.
What is a Household Hazardous Waste Material?
Household hazardous waste materials include many things that you probably are storing right now in your garage, basement, bathroom, or kitchen. Some, like paint thinner or car batteries, are pretty obvious, but there are many that you might not ordinarily think of such as polishes, insecticides, mercury thermometers and glues. These materials are too dangerous to be simply poured down the drain or placed into a garbage can. Some, such as gasoline, thinners, lighter fluid or glues and adhesives can catch fire. Others, such as pool chemicals and bleaches, can react violently with other materials to explode or produce toxic gases. Many, such as lawn and garden or agricultural chemicals, can be toxic if inhaled or ingested or can cause cancer, birth defects or other serious medical problems.
Dangers of Hazardous Waste
The improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can cause problems for the entire community. Sewers have exploded and garbage trucks have burned because people have carelessly discarded flammable or reactive wastes. Household hazardous wastes can leak from landfills and contaminate groundwater and surface water or can enter the air we breathe through emissions from landfills and incinerators.
Paints and stains leaking from trash cans or the back of garbage trucks may not be dangerous, but can create public nuisances and community eyesores on area roadways and sidewalks.
Individuals Really Can Make a Difference!
- Educate yourself. Learn about the products you use in your home, garden, and workshop, and about how waste is managed in your community.
- Try to find a non-hazardous or less hazardous substitute. Baking soda makes a good scouring powder, whole lemon oil and beeswax works well as a furniture polish. Cedar shavings and aromatic herbs can replace mothballs. Use a plumber's helper or snake to clear clogged drains instead of a caustic drain cleaner. In some cases, substitutes may require a little more "elbow grease," but are well worth the effort to protect your health and the environment.
- Try to select the least hazardous product which will work for you. When you buy, buy only what you really need. The large economy size often is less economical when you consider disposal of leftovers!
- Always read and follow all directions and precautions on labels. Never mix products unless directed by the label - two really good individual products may react to be less useful, and may even be chemically incompatible, producing toxic fumes, fires or possibly explosion.
- Store hazardous products in their original container. If you must put something into another container, for example when you change your motor oil, make sure to label the container. Make sure all containers are tightly closed and upright. Keep away from children and pets.
- Keep hazardous products away from food products and sources of heat and sparks. Separate flammable, corrosive and poisonous products.
- Try to use up products for their intended purpose. If you do have some left, try to share it with your friends or neighbors, or perhaps with community groups.
- Find and utilize Baltimore County drop off centers for used motor oil, paints and other materials.
- Finally, carefully store any remaining household hazardous waste until you can safely transport them to the nearest Baltimore County drop off center or one day collection event.
Recycling
Eastern Landfill
Days Cove Road
White Marsh, MD 21162
Monday - Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility
Warren Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030
Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- motor oil/anti-freeze/automobile batteries
Western Acceptance Facility
Transway Road
Arbutus, MD 21227
Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- motor oil/anti-freeze/automobile batteries
Disposal
Reusable paints can be taken to the drop off center at the Eastern Landfill or to a one day collection event. For residents who do not wish to recycle their paints, these paints can be disposed of with your routine garbage collection if a few simple steps are taken. Make sure the paint cans are empty or the contents have solidified before placing paints into the garbage can. The lid should be removed from the paint can so that the garbage collector can see that there is no liquid inside.
Liquid paint can be solidified in the paint can by removing the lid, stirring in an absorbent material such as cat litter or saw dust and placing the open can out in the sunlight to dry. This should be done in a safe, well ventilated area away from children and pets. Care should be taken to avoid overloading your garbage can with paint cans beyond the 50 lb. local weight restriction. For guidance on the disposal of other household chemicals, please contact the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) at 410-887-3745.
You can view the Household Hazardous Waste Brochure (PDF) online or download and print it.
Jerry Siewierski
Waste Management, DEPRM
Phone: 410-887-3745
E-Mail: esiewierski@baltimorecountymd.gov
(Need PDF Help?) Revised April 18, 2008
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