Under the certain circumstances, many leftover household products can pose a major threat to one’s home and the safety of one’s family. Even the act of disposing of these products can be harder than expected. Throwing away toxic products can lead to them potentially causing fires. Placing them in landfills can contaminate surrounding soil and groundwater. To save residents the trouble of having to figure out how to dispose of these products, the Londonderry Department of Public Works and Engineering will be hosting a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Nov. 17.
This will take place from 9 a.m. until Noon. The event will be held at the Nelson Fields, off of Sargent Road and behind the Central Fire Station. In terms of what content residents are advised to bring, there are quite a few products. For yard materials, you can bring fertilizers with pesticides, fungicide, insect spray, lighter fluid, pest strips and traps, pesticides, poisons, and pool chemicals. Applicable materials usually found in garages include acids, antifreeze, car waxes and polish, creosote, driveway sealer, flea powder, gasoline, radiator flush, and roofing tar. For materials found within the house, you can bring bathroom cleaner, disinfectants, furniture polish, metal polish, mothballs, oven cleaner, photo chemicals, rug cleaner, and thermometers. Finally, in terms of materials typically found on a workbench, you can bring brush cleaner, corrosives, oil-based paint and stain, rust preventative, solvents, thinner or turpentine, wood preservatives, and wood stripper. They request that you DO NOT bring batteries, explosives, infectious waste, latex paints, radioactive materials, or asbestos.
If you wish to dispose of these materials on your own, there are several tips for keeping safe while doing so. Be sure to follow any instructions for use and storage provided on the product’s labels. Use instructions for disposal on the products to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing any other hazards. Do not store hazardous products in food containers. Make sure that they remain in their original containers and labeled. Never mix leftovers with other products. They may be incompatible and react with one another. Check with local environmental agencies for other option for managing and disposing of hazardous waste in your area. Finally, even empty containers can pose a threat due to residual chemicals that are left behind, so handle with care.
For more information, contact Robert Kerry with the Department of Public Works and Engineering at 432-1100, extension 137, or RKerry@LondonderryNH.org. You can also visit: www.londonderrynh.org/Pages/LondonderryNH_PublicWorks/Index.