- Use up products before purchasing new
- Store in original container and keep label intact
- Purchase amounts that can be easily used up
- Store away from heat and flames
- Read and follow label safety directions
- Store out of reach of children
- Do not use pesticides that are more than 10 years old
- Store in dry place; prevent freezing
- Never mix products together
Handle At Home
Before bringing items to the events, check the lists below to see if they can be handled safely at home.
Flush with lots of water down your sink or toilet, but not in septic tank systems:
- toilet cleaner
- disinfectant
- disinfectant cleaner with bleach*
- cleaner with ammonia*
- liquid soaps and detergents
Dry completely, remove lids and place in the trash:
- small amount of latex paint
- latex caulk, glaze, spackle & adhesives
- empty containers
- putty, grout
- cosmetics
*Never mix products containing bleach with those containing ammonia. A toxic gas can form!
Medication Disposal
All medications applied externally or ingested have the potential to enter sewage systems and from there be discharged into aquatic environments. Concerns to date include pathogen resistance to antibiotics and disruption of endocrine systems. Pouring medicine down the toilet can be harmful to the bacteria in wastewater treatment plants.
To encourage take-back programs, please check with your pharmacy first to see if they can accept unwanted or expired medicines. Chemotherapy drugs may require special handling. Work with your healthcare provider on proper disposal options for this type of medication.
Placement in the trash is the preferred disposal method, please follow these tips:
- Keep the pharmaceuticals in their original container since the labels may contain safety information. For privacy, remove your name from the label.
- Add a small amount of water to solid drugs or some absorbent material (kitty litter, sawdust, or flour) to liquid drugs to discourage any unintended use of the drug.
- Enclose the contained drugs in a secondary small bag or other waste container. This double packaging will prevent glass containers from breaking and will hinder others from taking medication from the trash.
- Throwing solid pills in the trash could lead to accidental ingestion by children and animals, so make sure that items disposed are as inaccessible as possible.
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