Before throwing any wastes from your home into the skip bin or regular trash can, you need to know that there are certain wastes that could be hazardous to other people as well as the environment. Therefore, knowing some of the potentially hazardous wastes will help you find the proper way of disposing of them. For this reason, here are some of such harmful wastes that you should know and how to properly to dispose them.
Paint, Paint Strippers, Paint Thinners and Stains
Most of these products contain solvents. Solvents are very dangerous because they are flammable and contain toxic compounds that may end up in soil or watercourses and lead to contaminations. Therefore, if possible, try to use up as much of the paint as possible so that very little amounts are left in the can.
You can then move the paint container, can, or tin into a secure and sheltered outdoor area away from the children as well as sources of flames and then open the lid. Doing this will allow the liquid to dry, which means you can then dispose of the hardened material safely. Sometimes, used paint containers can be accepted as scrap so you can simply drop off the paint container in a scrap metal bin at the scrap metal yard.
Alternatively, you can have it taken to your local household hazardous/harmful waste collection institution or site.
Pressurised Products
Pressurised products, such as aerosol containers and cans that may be containing highly flammable substances, can pose serious hazards in case they are punctured in transit and are exposed to sources of fire or heat. Therefore, to dispose of such products, empty all the partially full containers or cans by spraying the contents into a cardboard box in a well-ventilated and secure place, preferably outdoors. You can then dispose of both the box and the can in the required bins.
Adhesives and Glues
These also contain toxic chemicals such as solvents. Partly used adhesives and glues should be used up, given to people who can use them, or simply taken to the local hazardous waste site. Just like paints, you can also leave the adhesives and glues to dry and harden before disposing them of in the bin. The bottom line is, disposing of the material when still in liquid form is dangerous because of the possibility of leakages. Therefore, small amounts of the adhesives can be dried by simply opening the lid and letting it sit for some time. Larger amounts can be reduced by spreading the glue or adhesive on a newspaper. Adhesive containers or tubes with hardened glue or adhesives can then be safely disposed of in a bin.
Keep these tips in mind when dealing with your weekly rubbish removal as well as if you hire a bin for a remodeling project.
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