Hazardous Waste

Summer/Fall '13 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule!

The collection schedule for 2013 is now available. Please review it to see what the dates are for collection. 

SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?

The average household throws 15.5 pounds of hazardous materials into the trash each year. Household hazardous materials are disposed of in other ways too. Certain products, such as used oil, are sometimes poured down storm drains and many products end up going down the sink drain into septic systems or sewers.

Flammable or reactive household chemicals can release toxic fumes or even explode if they are mixed together in the trash, causing fires or injuries. Dumping solvents into septic systems or landfills may contaminate ground and surface waters, ruining drinking water and killing fish and wildlife. Pesticides can damage sewage treatment plants, and oil poured into storm drains can flow directly into streams and ponds.

Don't let these things happen in your community. Be a good neighbor.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS To learn more click here.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs have overwhelming advantages compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs. Switching to compact fluorescent lights is an easy way to save money, reduce energy consumption and limit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars.

There is, however, one tradeoff and that is that compact fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, and have to be disposed of carefully, especially if they're broken. As of Jan. 1, 2008 New Hampshire banned the disposal of any "mercury-added" (see "What Are Mercury ..." below) product, including spent compact fluorescent light bulbs and "button-cell" batteries, in landfills, transfer stations or incinerators. So now, instead of throwing those lightbulbs in your household trash, you'll have to recycle them, either through your municipality or a participating retailer. The City of Keene accepts compact fluorescent light bulbs for recycling from Keene residents free of charge during operating hours- Monday through Friday 7am-3pm and Saturday 8am-1pm.

Please note that if a compact fluorescent light bulb breaks it needs to be handled carefully. Don't vacuum a broken bulb- that will spread it through the house, mercury could become airborne, and then the vacuum cleaner will be contaminated. Instead, ventilate the room and leave it for 15 minutes. Then, put on some disposable gloves and use cardboard and duct tape to pick up small pieces and powder, seal everything in a screw-top jar, and store the jar in a safe place until you can dispose of it at a household hazardous waste collection. The City of Keene offers 24 household hazardous waste collections per year. These will resume in the Spring of 2009.

WHAT ARE HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS?

Look in any storage cabinet in your home. Do you see products such as paint thinner, spot remover, oven cleaner, furniture polish, drain opener, pool chemicals and hair spray? These products are hazardous because they contain chemicals that are corrosive, explosive, reactive, flammable or toxic.

When you look at these products you might not immediately recognize hazardous products by their name. When you see words like pesticide, acid, fungicide, caustic, herbicide, or solvent, you know they are hazardous. But, sometimes the name may not tell you anything about the product. Read the label, especially the instructions, carefully.

Unfortunately, the absence of these words does not guarantee the product is without hazards. For example, methyl alcohol (found in some glass cleaners) can cause blindness if ingested, but may not require a warning if it makes up less than 4% of a product. Additionally, health effects from long term exposure may not even be considered in the labeling requirements.

WHAT ARE MERCURY CONTAINING PRODUCTS?

As of January 1, 2008, the disposal of mercury containing products at landfills, transfer stations and incinerators is prohibited. This means these items may not be disposed of as a solid waste with the "normal" garbage. The ban covers products including:

• Thermometers
• Fluorescent lamps
• Thermostats
• Mercury button cell batteries
• Switches and relays

Homeowners and businesses alike are subject to this ban. However, the ban does not include the recycling of these items at our facility and we encourage consumers to bring them for recycling along with their other recyclables. Legal disposal options include:

• Collection and Recycling at Municipal Facilities
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events has ended for the year. Thank you. See you in the spring.

The City of Keene Transfer Station and Recycling Center currently accepts fluorescent lamps and we also accept and recycle other mercury containing products.
For a more comprehensive list of common mercury-added products and recycling options, visit the N.H. Pollution Prevention Program website.

Hazardous Waste
Collection!

A Great Opportunity to Clean
Toxic Wastes from
your basement, workbench,
garage, and cupboards.

All collections run 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM