HANDLING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

Based on: Mississippi State University Publication 1870 Dr. Jimmy Bonner, Home-A-Syst program coordinator, Energy Extension Center email: infopub@ces.msstate.edu. Publication date: 4-11-96

The following evaluation rates your knowledge, use and disposal of hazardous household products with a three-tier scale, low risk, medium risk and high risk. The objective is to point out areas of high risk so that better practices can be developed. For each of the ten categories, read the question and the three descriptions which follow. Select the description which best matches your current practices.


1. Amount of hazardous household material in your home

a) You reduce the amount of hazardous household wastes on hand by buying only the product amounts you can safely use in a reasonable period.
b) You usually buy the amount of household products you can use in a reasonable period but sometimes buy more than you can use when you find bargain prices.
c) You aren't aware of the amount of hazardous household products in your home. You usually don't see what products are on hand before buying others.
2. Knowledge of product properties
a) You have a good understanding of products in your home that can produce hazardous wastes. When you aren't sure, you contact your county Extension office before using or disposing of the product.
b) You have a fair understanding of products in your home that can produce hazardous wastes, but you sometimes use or dispose of products without knowing for sure.
c) You know little about products in your home that can produce hazardous wastes. You often use and dispose of products without knowing for sure, or sometimes mix some household products without knowing what may happen.
3. Product labels
a) You always read the label on all household products before using them. You follow label directions for using and disposing of the product.
b) You usually read the label on most household products before using them but sometimes take the product for granted and don't read it.
c) You seldom read the label on any household products, and use and dispose of the product in the most convenient way.
4. Product storage
a) You always store unused hazardous household products in a separate locked area away from children and in their original containers.
b) You usually store unused hazardous household products along with other products on an open high shelf out of the reach of children.
c) You usually store unused hazardous household products along with other products on a low open shelf or under the sink.
5. Product disposal
a) Before disposing of any hazardous household products, you recycle all products that can be recycled or store them safely until they can be disposed of in a community waste collection program.
b) Before disposing of any hazardous household products, you contact your local landfill operator for recommended disposal methods.
c) You dispose of hazardous household products by mixing them with other garbage, pouring them down a drain, burning, dumping, burying, or discarding them near a well, water source, or your septic tank.
6. Wellhouse area
a) You never use your wellhouse or the area around it to store paint, household pesticides or chemicals, oil or fuel products, or as a storage area for any other products.
b) You use your wellhouse or the area around it to store some household materials, but none that are considered hazardous.
c) You use your wellhouse or the area around it as a storage area for household pesticides, chemicals, or other hazardous products, or you aren't sure what is stored in your well house.
7. Lawn and garden products
a) You use all lawn and garden pesticides according to label directions and apply them more than 100 feet downhill from a well or water source.
b) You try to follow label directions in using lawn and garden pesticides but sometimes apply them within 100 feet of a well or water source.
c) You don't make a habit of following pesticide label directions and frequently apply home pesticides less than 100 feet uphill from a well or water source.
8. Motor oil
a) You safely collect used motor oil from autos and return it and worn-out auto batteries to a retailer for recycling.
b) You reuse previously used motor oil for other safe purposes, or temporarily store it and worn-out auto batteries in a secure location away from a well or water source until you can take them to a recycler.
c) You don't recycle used motor oil or auto batteries, or you dispose of them in your yard, near a well or water source, in a ditch, or in a remote area away from your home.
9. Antifreeze
a) You safely collect used auto antifreeze and reuse it in other radiators or take it to a dealer for recycling or safe disposal.
b) You dispose of used auto antifreeze in a city drain after getting permission from wastewater treatment officials, or you contact your local landfill or incinerator operator.
c) You pour used auto antifreeze on the ground near a well or your septic system or store it in open containers where children, livestock, or pets may reach it.
10. Application of paint and other products
a) You try to limit drips and spills when using paints, thinners, stains, wood preservatives, and other hazardous household products. Any small spills are collected on drop cloths or applicators.
b) You collect all drips and spills when using paints and other hazardous household products. You dispose of drop cloths and applicators at your local landfill or garbage collection site.
c) You sometimes dump large spills of paints, wood preservatives, and other hazardous household products near a well or water source or dump them in a remote area.

Evaluation
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