Household Hazardous Waste
Alternatives & Disposal

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Household hazardous wastes that make their way into landfills can cause groundwater pollution. If improperly handled and disposed of, these materials can pose a threat to the public's health and safety. In many cases, you can avoid buying products that contain hazardous materials and use alternative products instead.

What you put in the garbage matters

Before you buy, read the label. It is often difficult to determine if a product is hazardous since manufacturers are not required to list ingredients. However, manufacturers must label the degree of acute toxicity of a product.

Look for the following signal words on labels (listed in order from least to most hazardous):

Other words that indicate hazardous substances:

Before purchasing a product labeled with any of these words, try to find a less hazardous product.

Buy smart

The best way to avoid hazardous household materials is to use alternative products. Safer alternatives are listed in this brochure.

For materials that have no available alternatives, follow these tips:

• Buy only what you can use in a short period of time.
• Leave products in their original container.
• Don't mix a product with other materials unless the labels give directions for doing so.
• Use products in a well-ventilated area.
• Don't eat, drink or smoke while using hazardous materials.
• Avoid aerosols.

Avoid hazardous waste by trying these alternatives

Air freshener

Place saucers of vinegar around the house to absorb odors.

All purpose cleaner

1) 1 teaspoon borax in 1 quart warm water to clean most surfaces. 2) 1 tablespoon ammonia, 1 tablespoon liquid detergent and 2 cups water. Mix ingredients and put in spray bottle.

Aluminum pan cleaner

2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 1 quart water. To clean aluminum cookware, combine ingredients in cookware. Bring solution to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Wash and dry as usual.

Ants

Wash counters, floors, etc., with mixture of equal parts vinegar and water.

Brass polish

Make a paste out of lemon juice and baking soda. The paste should be the consistency of tooth paste. Rub onto brass with a soft cloth. Rinse with water.

Drain cleaner

1) Use a plunger. 2) Use a flexible metal snake that can be purchased or rented. 3) Pour ½ cup baking soda down drain. Next pour down ½ cup vinegar. This mixture will foam. After 15 minutes flush with boiling or hot water. This mixture will not open a clogged drain but if used regularly, it will keep drains flowing freely. Do not use these methods if you have used a commercial drain opener that may still be present in the drain.

Fleas (in carpet)

Place a small light above a pan of water or beer. Fleas will jump at the light, land in the liquid and drown.

Flea & Tick (on pets)

Add small amounts of brewers yeast to your pet's food.

Flies

Beat an egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of molasses and finely ground black pepper and set out mixture in shallow plates. Buy sticky fly strips or paper.

Mice

1) A mouse trap. 2) Set out mashed potato powder or buds in a strategic place, with a dish of water nearby. This will cause fatal bloating.

Moths

Cedar chips or lavender flowers.

Oven cleaner

1) sprinkle water on oven surface. Apply baking soda. Rub using very fine steel wool. Wipe off scum with a damp sponge. Rinse well and dry. 2) While oven is still warm, sprinkle water on the spill, then sprinkle salt on it. When the oven cools down, scrape the spill away and wash the area clean. 3) Heat oven to 150°. Turn off the oven, place a bowl of ammonia in the oven. Let this set over night.

Rust

Scrub with lemon juice mixed with salt.

Toilet bowl

1) Use a pumice bar to scour the toilet bowl ring. 2) Mix lemon juice and borax into a paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Flush toilet to wet sides. Rub paste on the toilet bowl ring. Let sit for two hours and then scrub thoroughly. 3) Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar. Scour with toilet brush. 4) Pour ½ cup liquid chlorine bleach into toilet bowl. Let stand for one-half hour. Scrub with brush. Flush.

Toilet, Tub, Tile and Chrome cleaner

Baking soda can be used as a mild abrasive for most household needs. Add ¼ cup vinegar to each quart of water for cleaning and disinfecting. Add salt or baking soda to intensify the solution effects.

Window cleaner

1) Water. 2) ½ cup white vinegar, 1 gallon of water. 3) ½ cup white vinegar, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, 1 gallon of water. 4) Same as #2 but substitute ½ cup ammonia for vinegar.

Proper disposal of hazardous materials

The following chart of household hazardous wastes provides guidelines for the proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials. The best alternative for all materials is to use up the material for its intended purpose.

As indicated in the table below, materials may be disposed of in a specific manner.

Note 1: Used Motor Oil, Antifreeze and Automotive Battery Recycling information is provided on another page. Click here

Note 2: Call the Omaha Police Department at 444-5880.

Note 3: Let the paint settle to the bottom. Pour the mineral spirits into a new container leaving the paint in the bottom of the first container. Let the first container dry out, then discard in the garbage. Reuse the paint thinner in the new container. Be sure to properly label the container.

Note 4: Proper Paint Disposal information is provided on another page. Click here

Note 5: Some places that sell hearing aid batteries also accept them for recycling.

Note 6: Call the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation at (800) 8BATTERY or on the internet visit them at www.rbrc.com.

Note 7: Place in tube container, then wrap with paper before disposing with your garbage. Do not break.

Note 8: Dilute to 1 part rust remover to 200 parts water before disposing.

Note 9: Can be explosive if more than one year old. Call the Omaha Police Department at 444-5880.

Note 10: Some pesticides are collected by the Nebraska State Department of Agriculture, call them at (402) 471-6882 and ask if your material qualifies.

Note 11: Contact service stations listed in the Used Motor Oil, Antifreeze and Automotive Battery Recycling brochure and ask if they will accept brake fluid in addition to used motor oil.