Stewardship Tip for February 3rd, 2009 – HHW
According to some estimates, each household in the US generates about 20 pounds of household, hazardous waste (HHW) per year. Moreover, most households have accumulated about 100 pounds of HHW. Many products contain chemical compounds that can poison, corrode, explode, or ignite when handled improperly. This includes products such as fertilizers, insecticides, solvents, and antifreeze. HHW is usually labeled CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, or POISON
As an alternative to disposing of HHW, take it to a swap shop in your community. A swap shop will accept good, usable products and will offer it, usually free of charge, to members of the community. Make sure to check with your local swap shop prior to dropping off products. Some will have restrictions as to what they will accept (and they will usually direct you to the location where items that they won’t accept can be recycled) and many require an appointment for drop-offs.
If you need products for your household projects, give your local swap shop a call. Most swap shops will have a variety of household cleaners, garden products, automotive products, paints, stains, varnishes, and hobby supplies. Types and quantities of products will vary depending on what customers drop off.
To find a swap shop in your community, visit earth911 and search for HHW in your zip code. The listings will indicate what the local HHW Recycling Center will accept and whether it has a swap shop.
Why it is important to the fish: HHW that is improperly discarded can leach into the soil surrounding our landfills and contaminate the groundwater. If HHW goes down then drain, the liklihood increases that it will enter the watershed. Whether it enters the watershed through our sewers or our landfills, HHW is toxic and can kill fish.
By recycling HHW through our local swap shops, we keep it out of our watersheds. Our fish are the utlimate beneficiaries.
(Photo courtesy of David Shankbone)
This week’s sponsor-partner: Bassroom System
Help support Recycled Fish and receive a free T-shirt when you purchase a Bassroom System. When you check out, let Cover Your Bass know that you saw their advertising on Recycled Fish. You will receive the Bassroom System, a free T-shirt, and Cover your Bass will donate a portion of sale price to Recycled Fish.
Cover You Bass’s partnership makes this week’s “Stewardship Tip” possible.
Rising demand for our weekly Stewardship Tip and a new partnership with Fly Cast America now makes the Stewardship Tip available in Spanish. Ahora, reciba el Stewardship Tip en español. Gentileza de Fly Cast America.
To read the weekly Stewardship Tip in Spanish, click here Simplemente haga click aquí si desea recibir el Stewardship tip en Español.
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