What is HHW, anyway? It's just what it sounds like - hazardous materials, unregulated under federal and state laws because of the limited quantities produced by households.
But hazardous is hazardous, regardless of quantity. Most HHW is hazardous because it is flammable, toxic or corrosive. If carelessly managed, HHW can create environmental and public health problems.
However, these problems can be easily prevented. Generally, HHW materials belong to one of the following categories:
Flammable
Can easily catch fire.
Words to look for:
Flammable
Combustible
Contains petroleum distillates
Common labels:
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE - KEEP AWAY FROM ANY SOURCE OF IGNITION
HIGHLY FLAMMABLE - KEEP AWAY FROM FLAMES
Common examples:
Gasoline
Kerosene
Fuel oil
Butane
Oil-based paint
Paint thinner
Degreasing solvent
Cleaning solvent
Aerosol containers
Roofing tar
Toxic
Poisonous
Harmful or fatal if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin
Words to look for:
Poison
Harmful if swallowed
Common labels:
DANGER/POISON
WARNING - KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
Common examples:
Antifreeze
Pesticides
Motor oil
Wood preservatives
Paint strippers
Mercury-containing latex paint
Spot remover
Cyanide compounds (found in rat fumigants)
Ant traps
Old fire extinguishers
Corrosive
Acidic or alkaline
Can burn or corrode other materials and skin
Words to look for:
Contains acid
Contains lye
Causes burns to skin
Common label:
CORROSIVE - AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN OR EYES
Common examples:
Drain cleaners
Rust removers
Oven cleaners
Toilet bowl cleaners
Battery acid
Pool acids
Concrete cleaners
Oxidizers
May cause fires or explosions
Common label:
WARNING - STRONG OXIDIZER
Common examples:
Pool chemicals
Peroxide
Not sure what the risk is? Check the product label. Look for signal words which indicate the product's degree of hazard.
