Household Hazardous Waste

Most households contain materials that can be hazardous and must be disposed of carefully. Improper disposal can be dangerous to people and the environment. For years, it was common for homeowners to throw chemicals into the trash, onto the ground or down the drain. While it seemed the amount from an individual household was small, the cumulative effect was significant. A typical community the size of Bloomfield Township discards two tons of toilet bowl cleaner, seven tons of liquid household cleaner and two tons of motor oil each month. Unfortunately, landfills, storm drains and sewage treatment plants are not designed to treat chemical wastes. Without special treatment, the chemicals may stay in the environment and move into recreational and drinking water supplies.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day

Common Household Hazardous Wastes

Kitchen

• Aerosol cans
• Aluminum cleaners
• Ammonia based cleaners
• Drain cleaners
• Furniture polish
• Oven cleaners
• Insect sprays

Bathroom

• Alcohol based lotions
• Disinfectants
• Hair relaxers
• Nail polish
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Tub & tile cleaners
• Mercury thermometers

Outdoor Shed

• Fungicide
• Herbicide
• Insecticide
• Rat poison
• Weed killer
• Fertilizer

Garage

• Automatic transmission fluid
• Battery acid
• Brake fluid
• Diesel fuel
• Motor oil
• Fuel oil
• Antifreeze
• Gasoline
• Gas/Oil mixtures

Basement Workshop

• Paint
• Paint stripper
• Turpentine
• Varnish
• Wood preservative
• Rust remover
• Glue

Miscellaneous

• Artists' paints
• Drycleaning solvents
• Mercury batteries
• Lighter fluid
• Photographic chemicals
• Moth balls
• Shoe polish

Alternatives for Household Cleaning Solutions

Many common household tasks can be performed effectively with harmless substances rather than the more-often used hazardous chemicals. Consider the following tips:

HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS

Furniture

• Polish
  Equal parts mineral oil and lemon oil or equal parts mineral oil and Murphy's Oil Soap.
• Wood
  2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 1 quart warm water. Spray, then dry with soft cloth
• Upholstered
  6 tablespoons soap flakes, 1 pint boiling water, 2 tablespoons borax
• Leather
  Murphy's Oil Soap

Floors

• Cleaner
  ¼ cup white vinegar, ¼ cup washing soda (sodium carbonate) in 1 gallon warm water
• Painted Wood
  1 tablespoon washing soda in 1 gallon warm water
• Vinyl, Natural Wood
  Murphy's Oil Soap

Wax Remover

• 3 tablespoons washing soda in 1 quart warm water

Drain Cleaner

• Plunger or plumber's snake or
  ¼ cup baking soda and 2 ounces vinegar; cover drain tightly and flush with hot water, or
  flush weekly with boiling water, or
  ½ cup washing soda and boiling water

All Purpose Cleaner

• Baking soda and water for ovens, cutting boards, coffee stains, toilets, basin, tub and tile
• Water mixed with salt or borax for formica
• Baking soda and vinegar for crusted food in pans

Oven Cleaner

• Put salt on spills while warm
• Loosen soil with ¼ cut ammonia left overnight

Deodorizer

• Baking soda or vinegar in open dish
• Air out room
• Fresh flowers or herbs
• Mix 2 cups corn meal and 1 cup borax and sprinkle on carpet, leave 15 minutes and vacuum

Disinfectant

• Borax and water spray solution, then keep area aired out and dry
• 1 tablespoon bleach in 1 gallon of warm water (wipe on a clean surface and let air dry)

Stain Removal

• For rust or hard water deposits - vinegar or lemon juice
• For copper pots - lemon halves dipped in salt (or rub with vinegar)
• For coffee cups - baking soda
• Corn meal and water mixed into paste for general use

Personal Care Products

• Avoid aerosols; use pump sprays

Silver Polish

• Soak in 1 quart water, 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon salt and a small piece of aluminum foil

GARAGE / BASEMENT

Paint, Paint Remover

• Use water based latex paints. Use sandpaper and sander as paint remover

Window cleaner (glass cleaner)

• ½ cup white vinegar in 1 gallon water, rub dry with newspaper

Pesticides **

• Boric acid for cockroaches, traps for rats and mice

Wood preservatives

Purchase pre-treated wood

LAUNDRY

Detergent

• Soap, borax or washing soda or use less detergent

Softener

• ¼ cup vinegar in wash cycle

Dry cleaner fluid/spot remover

• Soap, cornstarch or vinegar

Starch

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch to 1 pint water

Bleach

• Use powdered rather than liquid bleach

OTHER

• Wipe up spills with water or club soda

** Pesticides will not be effective if the pests' shelter, food and water are not removed. Please call either the Southeastern Department of Environmental Quality offices at 734.953.8905 or the Department of Environmental Quality Assistance Center at 800.662.9278 regarding pesticides.

This page was updated in August, 2012.

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Charter Township of Bloomfield
4200 Telegraph Road
P.O. Box 489
Bloomfield Township, MI 48303-0489
248.433.7700
All information © 2013 Bloomfield Township, Michigan 

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