Household Hazardous Material Use, Storage and Disposal. Once we really start looking around our houses, the amount of hazardous materials we have on site is a real eye-opener. Oil-based paints and stains, paint thinner, gasoline, charcoal starter fluid, cleaners, waxes, pesticides, fingernail polish remover, and wood preservatives are just a few hazardous materials that most of us have around the house. When products such as these are dumped on the ground or in a storm drain, they can be washed directly to receiving waters where they can harm fish and wildlife. They can also infiltrate into the ground and contaminate drinking water supplies. The same problem can occur if they are disposed of with your regular garbage; the containers can leak at the landfill and contaminate groundwater. The same type of contamination can also occur if hazardous products are poured down a sink or toilet into a septic system. Don't pour them down the drain if you're on municipal sewers, either. Many compounds can “pass through” the wastewater treatment plant without treatment and contaminate receiving waters, or they can harm the biological process used at the treatment plant, reducing overall treatment efficiency. With such a diversity of hazardous products present in all homes in City of Olympia, a large potential for serious environmental harm exists if improper methods of storage, usage, and disposal are employed. Using the following BMPs will help keep these materials out of our soils, sediments, and waters. Required BMPs • Hazardous Materials must be used in accordance with the manufacturer recommendation or guidelines as shown on the label. • Always store hazardous materials in properly labeled containers, never in food or beverage containers which could be misinterpreted by a child as something to eat or drink. • Dispose of hazardous materials and their containers properly. Never dump products labeled as poisonous, corrosive, caustic, flammable, inflammable, volatile, explosive danger, warning, caution, or dangerous outdoors, in a storm drain, or into sinks, toilets or drains. Call the City of Olympia Department of Public Works at (000) 000-0000 for information on disposal methods, collection events, and alternative products. Household hazardous wastes from City of Olympia residents and non-residents are accepted at the HazoHouse, at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center in Hawks Prairie at 0000 Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx XX. Suggested BMPs • Check hazardous material containers frequently for signs of leakage. If a container i...
