Household Hazardous Products and Hazardous Waste:

A Summary for Consumers

College of Agricultural Sciences Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension

Contents

Page

I. What are Household Hazardous Products and Waste? ......................................................1 A. Hazardous Waste—Not Your Ordinary Pile of Trash ..................................................1 B. Household Hazardous Waste and Products .................................................................1

II. The Route of Household Hazardous Waste ......................................................................3 A. Household Hazardous Waste and the Environment .....................................................3 •ImproperDisposalofHouseholdHazardousWaste .................................................3 •HowLongWillHazardousWasteBeHazardous? ....................................................5 •HouseholdHazardousWasteandtheWaterCycle ...................................................5 B. Hazardous Products and the Human Body ..................................................................6 •HowDoHazardousSubstancesEnterOurBodies? .................................................6 •ToxinsintheBody ....................................................................................................7 •Toxicity:ARelativeTerm .........................................................................................8

III. HouseholdHazardousProducts:ProblemsandSolutions ...............................................8 A.LookingatLabels ........................................................................................................8 B. Specific Types of Household Hazardous Products ......................................................9 •AutomotiveProducts .................................................................................................9 •CleaningandPolishingProducts ............................................................................11 •PaintandRelatedProducts......................................................................................13 •Pesticides .................................................................................................................14 •MiscellaneousHouseholdHazardousProducts ......................................................16 C. Reduction Begins at Home ........................................................................................17 D.ReductionRisks:GeneralSafetyGuidelinesforHazardousProducts .....................17

IV. HowIsHouseholdHazardousWasteManaged? ............................................................19 A.HazardousWasteManagement .................................................................................19 B.HouseholdHazardousWasteManagement ...............................................................20 C. Source Reduction .......................................................................................................21

AppendixA:AlternativeHouseholdCleaningSolutions ...........................................................22

Sources.........................................................................................................................................24

I. What Are Household Hazardous Products and Waste?

A. Hazardous Waste—Not Your Ordinary Pile of TrashHazardouswaste.ThetermbringstomindimagesofLoveCanal(NewYork)residentsforcedtoleavetheirhomesandclean‑upcrewsdressedlikeastronautsin protective clothing. This is scary stuff. A total of 32,000hazardouswastesiteshavebeenloggedintheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)inven-tory(1990).Hazardouswastegeneratedbyindustryhasgainednationalattention.Asanation,wehavebeguntotakestepstowardpropermanagementofthese materials. In the last ten years the disposal of in-dustrialhazardouswastehasbecomehighlyregulated.Althoughtheproblemisfarfromresolved,progresshasbeenmade.

Alesser‑knowncrisis,however,isjustbeginningto unfold. Upon examining the types of household andsmallbusinesswaste,wearebecomingawarethatthesewastesarethesametypeofhazardouswastegeneratedbylargeindustry.Althoughtheactualamountofhazardouswastecomingfromonehouseorbusinessmaybesmall,thecumulativeamountfromallthe householdsandsmallbusinessesintheU.S.addsup to a profound threat to the environment. There are fewlawsgoverninghazardouswastefromhouseholds.Therefore,thiswastemaylegallyenterdisposalfacili-ties that are not equipped to treat it. Householdhazardouswaste(HHW)isbecom-ingthenextfocusofmunicipalwastemanagement.Aswelookforwaystoreducethevolumeofthetrashwegenerate,wemustalsoexaminehowwecanreduce its toxicity. The exact amount of house hold hazardous wastegeneratedperpersonisunknown.Estimatesputtherangeat3–10gallonsperhouseholdperyear(orthe equivalent of approxi mately 6 pounds of household hazardouswasteperpersonperyear).Somestateshavetakeninitialstepstoreducetheenvironmentalimpactofhouseholdhazardouswastebybanningcertain types from landfills, educating consumers on hazardous products, and requiring product manufactur-erstodecreasetheamountofhazardoussubstancesinconsumer products.

B. Household Hazardous Waste and ProductsHouseholdhazardouswasteistheunwantedportionsof those products that contain hazardous ingredients. Hazardous products generally fall into five catego-ries:automotive, cleaning and polishing, paint and related solvents, pesticides, and miscellaneous items (examplesincludebatteries,fingernailpolishremover,somecosmetics,andshoepolish).Theseproductsareconsideredhazardousbecausetheycanbetoxic,flammable,corrosive,and/orcauseviolentchemicalreactions.

How Is Hazardous Waste Regulated?Thetermhazardouswastehasalegalmeaning.Anywastethatistoxic,flammable,corrosive,reactive,radioactive,infectious,orhasbeenspecificallyidentifiedbytheEPAisconsideredhazardous. Basically, the amount of hazardous wastegenerated,notthetype,determineshowstrictlythewasteisregulated.Large quantity generatorsarethoseindustriesandbusinessesthat generate more than 220 pounds of hazard-ouswasteand/or2.2poundsofacutelyhazard-ouswastepermonth.Largequantitygeneratorsarehighlyregulatedbybothfederalandstatehazardouswastelaws. Small quantity generators (SQGs) are thosebusinesses,institutions,andagenciesthatgeneratelessthantheaboveamount.ThetypesofSQGsaresurprising.Examplesincludefarms,somecraftbusinesses(pottery,glassworking),autodealerships,servicestations,transportationservices(bus,taxifleets),clean-ingservices(carpetandupholsterycleaning,drycleaning),printingcompanies,photographylabs,golfcourses,andevensomeschools.

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Insomecases,theonlydifferencebetweensomeof the hazardous chemicals used in some industrial processes and those used in consumer products is that consumerproductscontainsmalleramountsand/or dilute concentrations. For example, the industrial-strengthsolventmethylenechloride(suspectedtocausecancer)issometimesusedinovencleanersbutis regulatedwhenusedasapesticideinlargerquantities.

Householdhazardousproductscauseproblemsinboththeiruseanddisposal.Theyposehealthrisksduringuse.Iftheunwantedportionsoftheseproductsgodownthedrain,intothetrash,orgetburned,theymay threaten the environment.

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What Makes Something Hazardous?

Amaterialisconsideredhazardousifitisradioactive,hasdangerousbiologi-cal characteristics, or has certain chemical properties. This guide focuses

onlyonthosematerialsthatareconsideredhazardousbecausetheyarecorrosive,reactive,flammable,and/ortoxic.Manyhazardousproducts

have more than one of these hazardous characteristics.

Corrosive materials destroy metal surfaces and living tis-sues.Theychemicallychangewhattheytouch.Practically

everyone in the northern states has seen corrosion in one form or another. Road salt used on icy roads is famous for its ongoing “corrosive” relationship

withautomobiles.Corrosivesubstancesareacidic(pHlessthanorequalto2)orcaustic(pHgreaterthan

orequalto12.5).Someexamplesofcorrosivemateri-alsareovencleaner(sodiumhydroxide),bathroomcleaner

(phosphoricacid),andpoolchemicals(hydrochloricacid).

Reactivematerialsareveryunstableandinteractwiththesubstancesaround them. They are explosive, and can sometimes create toxic fumes.

Examples of reactive materials found in the home or school are picric acid (formerlyusedinsciencelabs),weldingmaterial(calciumcarbide),andcertain

rodenticides(zincphosphide).

Flammablematerialswillburstintoflamesiftheycomeintocontactwithsparksorflamesatcertaintemperatures.Thetemperatureatwhichthishappensisreferredtoastheflashpoint.Flammableliquidshaveaflashpointof140°Fahrenheit.Examplesofignitablematerialsfoundinthehomearenailpolish(acetone),paintremover(toluene,xylene),andhairspray(butane).

Toxicmaterialscauseimmediateorlong‑termnegativehealthproblems.Exposuretotoxicmaterialsmayresultininjury,illness,ordeath.Examplesoftoxicmaterialsfoundinthehomearepaintstripper(methylenechloride),pesticides(chlordane),andwoodpreservatives(pentachlorophenol).

II. The Route of Household Hazardous Waste

Sincethechemicalmakeupisvastlydifferentamong the different types of household hazard ous waste,onecannotmakeageneralstatementaboutwhathappenstohouseholdhazardouswasteinalandfill environment. The long-term effects of house-holdhazardouswasteinlandfillsareunknownbecausestudies are so recent.

Incinerators

Althoughincineratorsareequippedwithpollutioncontrol devices, some pollutants found in hazardous wastearedifficulttocapture.Somecomponentsofthehouseholdhazardouswastestreamareparticularlytroublesome.Forexample,atthehightemperaturesthatoccurduringincineration,mercury(foundinsomedrycellbatteries,fluorescentlightbulbs,andoldpaint)canchangeintoagasandbeemittedthroughthestackoftheincinerator.Thereiscontroversyabouthoweffective incinerators are in capturing all pollutants. Somebelievethatexistingairpollutioncontrolequip-ment,suchas“scrubbers,”iseffectiveatcapturingpol-lutantsbeforetheyleavethestack.However,themostefficienttechnology(spraydry/fabricfilter)canonlyremove75–85percentofthemercury.Airbornemer-curyissolubleinwaterandfindsitswayintolakes,streams,andgroundwater,whereitcanenterthefoodchain.Also,theashleftoverfromincineratorburningmay contain concentrated amounts of some hazardous chemicals. Onceairborne,hazardoussubstancesmayreactwithothercontaminantsandformanewsubstance,becomedissolvedinwaterdroplets,andeventu-allyfalltotheearthasrainoraslargerparticles(dryprecipitation).Theamountoftimeamaterialisintheatmospheredependsonhowstableitis.Unstablecompounds,suchascarbonmonoxide,areshortlivedintheatmosphere.Stablecompoundsremaininthe atmosphere for long periods of time and can cause much damage.

Co‑composting

Manytownsareconsideringco‑composting(compost-ing“regulartrash”with“traditionalcompostmaterial”).

A. Household Hazardous Waste and the Environment

Improper Disposal of Household Hazardous WasteMosthouseholdhazardouswasteiseventuallyland‑filled or incinerated, dumped directly on the ground, orpoureddowndrains(enteringsepticsystemsor sewers).Disposingofhouseholdhazardouswasteinthesewaysthreatensenvironmentalquality.

1. Into the TrashAnythingthatgetsthrownawaywiththeregulartrashis landfilled, incinerated, or composted.

Landfills

Landfillsarenotisolated;theyareconnectedtotheen-vironment.Rain,snow,andotherprecipitationenterslandfillsandmixeswiththelandfillcontents,includinghazardouswastes.Ifthehazardouswasteiswatersol-uble,thenitwillbedissolvedandcarriedwhereverthewatertakesit.Ifitisnotwatersoluble,itwillprobablyremainintactandtravelsuspendedinthewater.Thiscontaminatedwater(calledleachate)tricklesdownthrough the layers of trash and can enter the environ-mentifitdoesnotencounteranytypeofbarrier. Even lined landfills are not designed to treat hazardouswaste.Sometypesofhazardouswastescandestroythesyntheticliner,makingitineffective.Leachatecontaminatedwithhazardouswastecannotbecompletelycleanedatthewastewatertreatmentfacilitiestowhichitissent.Leachate,contaminatedbyhazardouswaste,canpotentiallyenterthewatercycle. Landfillconditionsinfluencewhathappenstohouseholdhazardouswaste.Theamountofoxygenand moisture in the landfill and the surround ing soil characteristicsaffecthowfasthouseholdhazardouswastecontainersormetalbatterycasingswilldegrade.Waterinalandfillmayalsoreactwithdifferenttypesofhazardouswaste.Forexample,lithium,foundinatypeofdrycellbattery,mayreactviolentlywithwaterfound in a landfill.

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2. On the GroundIf dumped directly on the ground, the first thing house-holdhazardouswastewillencounterissoil.Hazardousmaterialsmustbedissolvedorsuspendedintoliquidbeforemovingthroughsoil.Howthickthissolutionormixtureis(itsviscosity)determineshowfastitmoves.Soiltypealsoinfluenceshowfastandhowfarhouse-holdhazardouswastewilltravel.Soilcharacteristicssuchasporosity(theamountofspacebetweenthesoilpores)influencethecontaminatedwater’smovement.The larger pore spaces found in sandy soils permit easier movement of moisture than do the smaller

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spacesofclaysoils.Geologicalfactors(rockforma-tions,fractures,faults)alsoaffectthedirectionandextentofhazardouswastemovement.Thus,householdhazardouswastethatisdumpedmaycontaminatethesurroundingsoilorpercolatedownandpotentiallycontaminategroundwater.

3. Down the DrainAnythingthatispoureddownthedrainenterseitherasepticsystemorawastewatertreatmentfacilityandultimatelyentersthewatercycle.

How Do Septic Systems Operate? Primary Treatment

Onceenteringtheseptictank,wastesseparateoutaccordingto density.Solidssettletothebottom. Oils,grease,andotherlighter‑than‑watermaterials float to the surface and form a scum layer. The primary cleaning treatment is the action ofbacteriafoundinthewaste,whichdigestsorganiccompounds.Wastewaterleavesthetankanddrainsintothe leach field.

Secondary Treatment

Theleachfieldconsistsofperforateddistributionpipes,whichdistributethewastewaterbeneaththeground’ssurfaceintothesurroundingsoil.Soilparticlesphysicallyorchemicallyattractandretainsewagenutrients,metals,andpathogens.Microorganismslivinginthesoilfurtherbreakdownthewaste.Periodically,septictanksmustbepumpedoutinordertooperateeffectively.

Septic Systems

Thesepticsystem,located“onsite,”treatsabuilding’swastewaterbeforereleasingitbackintotheenviron-ment.However,likeincineratorsandlandfills,septicsystemsarenotdesignedtotreathazardouswaste.Hazardouswaste,includingexcessiveamountsofdrain openers and cleaners containing lye and strong bleach,maynegativelyaffectthesystem’snaturalcleansingprocessbydestroyingbacterianeededtocleanthewater.Withoutthesebacteria,certainpatho-genswilltravelthroughthesystemunchanged.Sincethesystemisnotdesignedtotreatchemicalwaste,householdhazardouswastepassesthroughthesystemun changed and can potentially contaminate ground andsurfacewater.

Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Wastewatertreatmentfacilitiesoperateonthesameprinciple as septic systems, except on a much larger scale.Wastewaterfromresidencesandbusinessesistreated at a central location, rather than on site. At the centrallocation,wastewatergoesthroughaseriesoftreatmentsbeforeitisreleasedintolocalwatersourc-es.Wastewatertreatmentfacilitiesarenot designedtotreathazardouswastes. Treatmentprocessesinclude:

• Screeningtoremovelargeobjectsandsand

• Primarysettlingtoallowthesolidstosettleassludgeandtoskimgreaseoffthetop

• Aerationtoallowairtocirculate,whichfacilitatesthebreakdownofwastes

• Finalsettlingtoremovesludgeafteritsettlesoutcompletely

• Disinfectiontofurtherpurifywaterbyadding chlorine;furtherwatertreatment,suchasadjustingthepHlevel,maybenecessary

How Long Will Household Hazardous Waste Be Hazardous?Howlongahazardousmaterialremainsactiveintheenvironment depends on its indi vidual characteristics. Ifitispersistent,itwillremainunchangedforsignifi-cant time periods. Persistent chemicals move through food chains, concentrating in the tissues of organisms ateachstepinthefoodchain(calledbioaccumula-tion).Heavymetalsarepersistentintheenvironment.Themostcommonheavymetalsfoundinthewastestream are mercury (drycellbatteries,fluorescentlightbulbs);lead(batteries,motoroilandfilters,leadsolderonlightbulbsandcircuitboards);

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and cadmium(batteries,plastics,appliances,elec-tronics,andsomepigments).Nonpersistentchemicals(suchasethyleneglycol,theprimaryingredientinantifreeze)undergophysicalandchemicalchangesintheenvironment.Thesechemicalsmaybreakdownorbecomedilutedtothepointwheretheyarenolongerharmful to the environment.

Household Hazardous Waste and the Water CycleUltimately, the improper disposal of house hold hazard-ouswasteleadstoitsentranceintothewatercycle.Precipitationfallstoearth,enteringoceans,lakes,andstreamsortricklingdownthroughthesoil.Thatwaterthat enters the soil may travel until it reaches an imper-meablebarrier(suchasbedrock).Thiswatercollectsunderneaththeearth’ssurfaceandiscalledground‑water.Itisstoredinthesurroundingsand,gravel,orother sediment. Groundwaterisnotthefinalrestingplaceforwater.Althoughitmovesveryslowly,groundwaterisconstantly on the move.Groundwatereventuallyflowstothesurface(streams,springs,swamps,ponds,orlakes),whereitevaporatesintocloudsoristakenintolivingthings.Thewholeprocessthenstartsoveragain.Itisthisconstantcyclebetweensurfacewaterandgroundwaterthatspreadswaterpollution.

Why Should You Be Concerned About Groundwater Contamination?

Between40and50percentoftheU.S.popula-tiondependsongroundwaterasitsprimarydrinkingwatersource.Over37percentofPenn-sylvaniansrelyongroundwaterfortheirprimarysourceofwater.Inruralareas,almosteveryonedependsongroundwater.

Septic Tank AdditivesSeptictankadditives,marketedasongoingmaintenance or remedies for septic tankprob-lems, can actually do more harm than good. Somesepticmaintenanceproductsarebannedin many states, as they contain dangerous chemicals that can destroy a leach field and contaminategroundwater.Consultprofession-alsaboutleachfieldproblems,ratherthanusinghazardous additives.

The Water Cycle

How Do Substances Enter Our Bodies?Substancesenterourbodiesthroughourmouths(in-gestion),ourskinandeyes(absorption),orournoses(inhalation).Allthesewaysbringtoxicsubstancesintoourbloodstream.Onceinthebloodstream,toxicsubstancesarecarriedtocellsalloverourbodies. Ifweingesttoxicsubstances,theyenterourdigestive system. After passing through our stom-achandintestines,substancesenterourbloodstream.Substancesthatdirectlycontactourskinandeyescandamage them at the point of contact or pass into our bloodstream.Inhalingtoxicsubstancescausesthemostdamagetohumans.Aftersubstancesareinhaled,theytravel to our lungs. Since the lungs are composed of highlypermeabletissues,toxicsubstancesareeasilyabsorbedintoourbloodstream.

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Groundwatercontaminationoccurswhenpol-lutedsurfacewaterorprecipitationpercolatesthroughthesoil.Sincegroundwaterconstantlyinteractswiththeentirewatercycle,contaminationspreadseasily.Since this cycle is continuous, con taminated ground-watercanalsofeedandcontaminatelakes,ponds,andstreams.

B. Hazardous Products and the Human BodyOurbodiesareconstantlyinteractingwiththeenvi-ronment.Thatenvironmentcontainsbothhelpfulandharmfulsubstances.Hazardousproductsinourenvi-ronment may contain toxic ingredients that may harm ourbodies.

Consider ThisAlmosteverychemicalcanbetoxicinexcessiveamounts or in high concentrations. It is often thedosethatdeterminesasubstance’slethality(theamountthatcausesdeath).Forexample,the“average‑sizeadult”woulddieifhe/sheingestedatonetime32gallonsofwateror100cupsofcoffee(caffeine)orbetween100and400poundsofpotatoes(solanine).

Toxic Substances and the Human Body

Ourbodieshaveseveralwaysofdealingwithingested,absorbed,orinhaledtoxins.Sometoxinscanbeexcretedinunchangedformsandleavethebodythrough exhaled air, perspiration, feces, urine, tears, vomit,hair,andbreastmilk.Toxinscanalsobemodi-fiedsothattheyarewatersolubleandcanberemovedbythekidneys.Sometoxins,insmalldosesorlowconcentrations, are metabolized and their toxic prop-ertiesarelessened.Sometoxinsdonotleavethebodyandaccumulateinvariouspartsofthebody,suchasfattissuesandbones.Thisprocessofaccumulationinbodiesishowsometoxicchemicalsareabletomovethroughthefoodchain.Thesetoxinsbecomemoreconcentrated as they move up the food chain from prey to predator.

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Toxins in the BodyAtoxicsubstancecaneitheraffecttheplacewhereitentersthebody (local) or have far-reaching effects all overthebody(systemic).Askinrashisoneexampleof a local effect, and a change in heart rate or mental confusion are examples of systemic effects. When thecombinedeffectoftwotoxicsubstancesisdiffer-ent from the sum of their indi vidual effects, this is a synergistic reaction. Itisoftendifficulttoknowthetrueeffectsofaparticulartoxicsubstanceinthebodybecausetheeffectsmaynotappearrightaway.Achronic, or long-term, health effect usually results from re peated exposuretosmallamountsorlowconcentrationsofatoxicsubstanceovertheyears.Incontrast,anacute reaction is a short-term effect and usually results from asingleexposuretoahighdoseofatoxicsubstance.

Cadmium(heavy metal found in paint pigments, rechargeable batteries)Causeskidneyandbonedamage;persistentinthebody;accumulatesinthefood chain

Methanol (wood alcohol)(solvent found in antifreeze, paints, and windshield wiper fluids)Highly toxic and readily absorbedthroughallroutesofexposure;blindnessordeathmayoccurfollowingingestion

Benzene(a type of petroleum distillate found in some varnishes, lacquers, paint removers, and gasoline)Rapidlyabsorbedbyblood; gainsaccesstovitalsystems;carcinogen;causescentralnervoussystemdisorders;powerfulbonemarrowpoison

Methylene Chloride(organic solvent found in paint and varnish removers, pesticides, and degreasers) Suspected human carcino-gen;aggravatesheart conditions,possiblycausingheartattacks

Toxicity: A Relative TermToxicity is a relative term. The effects of hazardous substancesvarygreatly.Ourreactiondependsonhowmuchofthesubstancewewereexposedto,thecon-centrationofthatsubstance,thelengthofexposuretime, and our individual character istics. Characteristics influencingtoxicityinclude:

1. Genetic factors—For example, the efficiency of the kidneycanaffecttheabilitytoexcretetoxins.

2. Lifestyle of the individual—Smoking,alcoholconsumption,obesity,andpreviousmedicalhistoryallaffecthowthebodyhandlestoxins.Ingeneral,healthierindividualswillbebetterabletofendoffsome toxins.

3. Gender—Some toxins have different effects on malesandfemales.Generally,womenhavealargerpercentageoffatintheirtotalbodyweight,mean-ingtheycanaccumulatemorefat‑solubletoxinsintheirbodiesthanmen.

4. Age—The very old and the very young are more susceptibletotheeffectsoftoxicsubstances.Infants and young children have incompletely developed systems. Since children have higher respirationrates,theyaremoresusceptibletotoxinsthrough inhalation.

5. Allergic sensitivity—Manyindividualswhoareparticularly sensitive to chemicals experi ence an allergic reaction to some toxic chemicals, even in lowamountsand concentrations.

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Ill. Household Hazardous Products: Problems and Solutions

A. Looking at LabelsFederal regulations require that certain information appearonhazardousproductlabels.TheFederal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA)establishedlabelingrequirementsforconsumerproductscontain-inghazardoussubstances,exceptforpesticides.Thefollowinginformationisrequiredtoappearonhazard-ousproducts:

• Signalwords(danger, warning, caution, poison).Thesethreewordsgivesomehintofhowhazardousaproductis.Productslabeled“Danger”arethemosthazardousandthoselabeled“Caution”aretheleasthazardous

•Descriptionofthehazardassociatedwiththeproduct(forexample:flammable,poison)

•Commonchemicalnameforthehazardous ingredients

• Instructionsforsafeuseandhandling

•Firstaidinstructions

•Nameandlocationofmanufacturerordistributor

• “KeepOutofReachofChildren”statementortheequivalent

Hazardous products are regulated only in terms of their acute health effects. Chronic health effects are nottakenintoconsideration,andveryfewstudieshavebeenconductedtodeterminejusthowdangerousthoseeffects are. Tradesecrecylawsallowmanufacturerstoomitlistingorspecificallydefiningingredientsonlabelsifdoingsowouldcausethemeconomicloss.Manufac-turers are required to disclose the exact product ingre-dientstophysicianstreatingapatient.Whilethislawprotects manufacturers, it prevents consumers from knowingexactlywhattheyarebuying.

Vague Language

Manufacturers sometimes use generic terms or vague language rather than reveal the specific chemical iden-tityoftheirproducts.Twocommongenerictermsarepetroleum distillates and organic solvent. Petroleum distillatesareabroadrangeofcompoundsthataremadewhencrudeoilisrefined.Petroleumdistillateshave varying degrees of toxicity, ranging from highly toxicbenzenetopetroleumjelly(generallyaccepted asnontoxic).Specificorganicsolventssimilarlyhave awiderangeoftoxicityandflammability.Organic solvents include acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and methylene chloride.

Some“ingredients”listedonlabelsdescribethefunctionofthechemicalingredient(greasecutter,cor-rosioninhibitor,polishingagent)ratherthantellingtheconsumerwhatspecificchemicalingredientsareused.

Misleading Terms

Sometermsmaybedeceptive,suchas“active”and“inert.” The term “active” refers to those ingredients thatactuallydowhattheproductisintendedtodo.“Inert”referstoanyothersubstancesintheproduct,usuallythe“vehicle”thatmakestheactiveingredi-enteasytoapplyandallowsittoperformthejob.Consumers often assume that “inert” means nontoxic. Inertingredientsmaybejustashazardousastheactiveingredients, or even more so. For example, methylene chloride, a carcinogen, is often an inert ingredient in disinfec tants. Another misleading term that is used is “non-toxic.” It is important to note that “nontoxic” has no regulated definition and therefore the manu facturers may use it as they desire.

Incorrect First Aid Advice

Consumers should never assume that first aid informa-tionlistedonlabelsiscorrect.AstudyconductedbytheNewYorkPoisonControlCenterfoundthat85percentoftheproductwarninglabelsstudiedwereinadequate or incorrect. Call your local poison control center for thorough first aid informa tion.

Selling Alternative Products—It’s Not Easy Being GreenIt is difficult to determine if “green prod ucts” are truly environmentallysafebecausemanyadvertisingclaims(“green,”“environmentallyfriendly,”“nontoxic”) havenolegaldefinition.Manyoftheseproductshavenotbeenanalyzedfortheirlong‑termhealthand environmental effects.

Consumer ProtectionConsumers do have some legal protection against hazardous products. The Consumer Prod uct Safety Act(1972)establishedtheConsumerProductSafetyCommission,anagencythatisempoweredto“protectthepublicagainstunreasonablerisks”associatedwithconsumer products, including chemical hazards. The EPAalsohastheauthoritytobanproductsthatareproventobetoohazardousundertheToxic Substance Control Act(1976).

B. Specific Types of Household Hazardous Products

1. Automotive ProductsIn the U.S. there are about180millioncars,buses,andtrucksontheroad.Therearehundredsofproductsassociatedwithmotorvehicleoperationandmain-tenancethatcontainhazardoussubstances.Peoplewhodotheirownrepairwork(“Do‑It‑Yourselfers”orDIYs)needtobeawareofthosehazardousproductsandwhattodowiththem.WheneverthenumberofDIYsincreases(forinstance,whenthecostofhavingacarrepairedandmaintainedrises),thelikelihoodofimproper disposal of these hazardous fluids soars.

ANTIfREEzE

What Are the Problems?The primary ingredient in antifreeze is ethylene glycol, ahighlytoxicsubstance.Petsareparticularlysus-ceptibletoethyleneglycolpoisoningbecausetheyareattractedtoitssweettaste.Antifreezeeventuallybecomesineffectiveinaradiatorandneedstobechanged.Iftheresultingwasteantifreezeisdumpedon the ground, it can contami nate ground and surface waters.

What Are Some Solutions?

Less Toxic Antifreeze

Lesstoxicantifreezehaspropyleneglycolastheactiveingredient, rather than ethylene glycol. There is a ques-tion,however,aboutpropyleneglycol’seffectivenessin extremely cold climates.

Recycling Antifreeze

Usedantifreezecanberecycled,anditsoriginalpropertiescanbereclaimed.Recycledantifreezecanbeusedagainasenginecoolantortheethyleneglycolcanbeextractedandreusedintheplastics industry. Gasstationsmayacceptsmallamountsofhouseholdantifreeze.Mosthouseholdhazardouswastecollectionprogramsacceptwasteantifreeze.

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MOTOR OIL

What Are the Problems?Motoroilcontainsmanyhazardoussubstances.Themostsignificantonesarepetrochemicals(benzene, xylene)andcertainadditives.Asmotoroilisusedinthevehicle,itpicksupheavymetals:lead,arsenic,cadmi-um,andchromium.Duetocontamination,carsrequireoilchanges;therefore,ahazardouswasteresults.

Inadditiontocars,wastemotoroilcomesfrommanysources.Someofthesesourcesincludeboats,farmandconstructionequipment,andlawnmowers.Changingavehicle’smotoroilisprobablythemostcommontaskdonebyDIYmechanics.AbouthalfofalltheU.S.automobileownerschangetheoilthem-selves,addinguptoabigproblem.If allowed to enter water used for drinking, the amount of used oil from a single oil change (4 quarts) can ruin a

million gallons of water—one year’s supply for 37 people! Themajorityofusedmotoroildisposal methods are environmentally unsound.Directdumpingorsendingittoalandfillthreatensgroundwaterquality,whileburningusedmotoroilmayresultin high levels of hazardous emissions into the atmosphere.

What Are Some Solutions?

Recycling Used Motor Oil

Althoughtherearen’tanylesshazard-oussubstitutesformotoroil,therearerecycling opportunities. Once collected, used oil is either repro cessed or re-refined. Both methods remove contaminants. However,re‑refiningproducesacleanerproduct,alubricatingoil,whilereprocess-ingproducesalowergradefueloil.Into-day’seconomy,itischeapertoreprocessused oils than to restore them to meet the higherspecificationsoflubricatingoil.

DIY Used Motor Oil DisposalSixty-one percent of used motoroilispoureddownsewersordumpedontheground;4percentisburned;and25percentis put in trash or used for a variety of applica tions (woodtreatment,appliedto roads as a dust suppres-sant,etc.).Only10percentoftheDIY‑generatedusedmotor oil is recycled.

U.S. businesses and homes improperly dispose of about 260 million gallons of waste oil per year. The amount of oil re leased into the environment from these sources is comparable to an oil spill the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster occurring every two weeks!

WET CELL BATTERIES

What Are the Problems?Vehicleandmarinebatteries(“wetcell”orlead‑acidbatteries)containleadandsulfuricacid.Infact,theaveragebatterycontains17.5poundsofleadand1.5gallonsofsulfuricacid.That’salotofhazardousmate-rial!Nationwidetheleadfromthesebatteriesaccountsfortwo‑thirdsofalltheleadenteringlandfills.

What Are Some Solutions?Thereareopportunitiestorecyclewetcellbatteries.Asmuchas80percentofwetcellbatteriesintheU.S.arerecycledbecausetheleadiseasilyrecovered.Recyclingwetcellbatteriesrepresentsaneffective“closedloop”system,as60percentoftheleadusedinmakingnewbatteriesisfromrecycledlead.InPennsylvania,retailstoresthatsellcarbatteriesarerequiredbylawtoac-ceptusedbatteriesforrecyclingatthetimeofpurchase.

OTHER HAzARDOUS VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SUBSTANCES

Otherhazardousproductsassociatedwithvehiclemaintenance include automatic transmission fluid, brakefluid,andwindshieldwiperfluid.Beforedispos-ingofanyautomobilefluids,checkwithyourservicestationtoseeiftheywillacceptsmallamounts.Al-thoughgasolinegenerallydoesnotgenerateanywaste,itisconsideredoneofthemosthazardoussubstancestostoreinthehousebecauseitishighlyflammableandtoxic.Gasolineiseasilyabsorbedintothebody,espe-ciallythroughinhalation.Gasolinecancauseavarietyofhealthproblems,includingbloodandkidneydam-age, developmental disorders, and cancer. Extreme cau-tionshouldbeusedwhenpumpinggasintovehicles.

2. Cleaning and Polishing Products

What Are the Problems?Theaveragehousecontainsawidevarietyofbrightlycoloredcleaningproductsthatpromisetomakelifeeasier.Thesetime‑savingproductsalsohaveadarkside, as many contain hazardous ingredi ents. Use of cleaningproductsisprobablythemostcommonwaywecomeincontactwithhazardoussubstances.Sincethey are so common, their hazard ous nature is often ignored.Theyareoftenusedandstoredinwaysthatcanmakepoisoningmorelikely.

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Therefore, most used motor oil collected in the U.S. isreprocessed.Neithermethod,however,is100percent environmentally safe. Both reprocessing and re‑refininggeneratesomehazardouswaste. For used motor oil recycling opportuni ties in your area, contact your local solid waste author-ity or your regional Department of Envi ronmental Resources office (DER). Collectioncenterswillnotacceptcontaminatedusedmotoroil.Makesurethecollectioncontainersarecovered,sodirtandotherforeignsubstancesarepre-vented from entering. Do not mix used oil with water, solvents, or other materials!

Burning Used Oil

Thereisabigdifferencebetweenburningusedoilinwoodstovesandburningitinusedoilfurnaces.Usedoil contains heavy metal contami nants that are released intotheatmosphereifburnedinawoodstoveorbrushpile. Used oil furnaces, such as those used in some gas stations,burnathighertemperaturesandaredesignedto meet emissions standards for various air pollutants.

Used Oil = Energy• Ifallusedoil improperlymanagedbyDIYs

intheU.S.wererecycled,enoughenergy topower360,000homeseachyearor96million quarts of high-quality motor oil couldbeproduced.

• Ifalltheusedoilimproperlydisposedofwererecycled,wecouldsave1.3millionbarrelsofoilperday!

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Thereisawidespectrumoftoxicityassociatedwithcleaningproducts,rangingfromlesshazardouswin-dowcleanerstohighlytoxicfurniturepolish.Thoseproductsofgreatestconcernincludedrainopeners/cleaners, furniture polish, oven cleaners, rug and upholstery cleaners, and cleaning products containing organic compounds and solvents. In comparison to other hazardous products (paints,batteries,motoroil,etc.),cleaningproductsposelessofadisposalproblem.Thisisinpartduetohowcleaningproductsareused.Mostpeopleuseuptheproductcompletelybeforethrowingthecontaineraway.Cleanersthatarewasheddownthedrainaregenerallydilutedtothepointwheretheyarenotharm-ful.Excessiveamounts,however,mayposeenviron-mentalproblems,especiallywherehousesusesepticsystems.

Key Ingredients for Effective Alternative Cleaners

• Prevention

• Elbowgrease

Healthrisksassociatedwithusinghazardouscleaning products are of greater concern. Since clean-ers are so common in our lives, people fre quently do notregardcleanersashazardousanddonotfollowthelabelinstructions.Hazardousproductsarerarelyusedwithadequateventilation.Toxiccleanersstoredinunlockedcabinetsarethecauseofmanypoisoningsofyoung children. Each year 5 to 10 million household poisonings are reported, usually the result of accidental ingestion of common household cleaners. Hazardous cleaners in aerosol form are of particular concern. A person using an aerosol spray is surrounded in a fine mist of the hazardous product. Themistcanremainairborneforhoursandcaneasilybeinhaledintothelungs.Iftheaerosolsprayismis‑directed,chemicalburnsandeyeinjurycanresult. Weknowthehealtheffectsofacuteexposuretohazardousproducts.Wedonotknow,however,the long-term health effects of using small amounts ofhazardouscleaningproductsoveralifetime.Mostpeople using toxic household cleaners are exposed to them for years and years. For ex ample, small amounts offurniturepolishwithmethylenechloride(apossiblecarcinogen)maybeinhaled byauseronceaweekover a period of 60 years. What effect this may have on anindividual’shealthisunknown.

Potential Health Hazards of Common Household Cleaners

Product Type Possible Hazardous Ingredients Potential Health Hazards

airfreshners formaldehyde toxic;carcinogen

bleach sodiumhypochlorite corrosive,causesburns;mixingwith ammonia creates a deadly gas

disinfectants phenols verytoxic;flammable;respiratory, circulatory, or cardiac damage

draincleaner/ sodiumorpotassium corrosive;causessevereburnsandtissue ovencleaner hypochlorite damageifswallowed

floorcleaner/wax diethyleneglycol toxic;centralnervoussystemdepression, furniturepolish kidneyandliverdamage petroleumdistillates highlyflammable;somearecarcinogens

spot removers perchlorethylene suspected carcinogen ammoniahydroxide corrosive;irritatesskin,eyes,respiratorytract

toiletbowlcleaner hydrochloricacid corrosive;ingestionmaybefatal

windowcleaners ammonia toxicvaporirritatingtolungs,eyes,andskin

What Are Some Solutions?Onewaytoreduceoreliminatehazardouscleaner“headaches”istomakehomemadecleanersfromsimple ingredients. These alternative cleaners are made withcommonkitchenitems,butthetwomain“in-gredients”arepreventivecleaningandelbowgrease.Frequent cleaning and cleaning up immediately as spillsoccurpreventsbuildup.Inadditiontobeinglesstoxic, these homemade clean ers are less expensive. Theper‑ouncecostofhomemadecleanersisabouthalf that of commercial products. If you choose to use hazardouscleaners,pleasetrytoreducerisksassoci-atedwiththeiruse. See Alternative Household Cleaning Solutions (pp. 22–23) for specific suggestions.

3. Paint and Related Products

What Are the Problems?Paint and related products have toxic characteristics that threaten human health and environmental quality. Paintsareespeciallyproblematicbecausesuchlargequantitiesenterthewastestream,accountingforabouthalfofthehouseholdhazardouswastegenerated.Hazardsassociatedwithpaintvarywiththetypeofsolvent, pigments, and additives used.

Solvents

Twotypesofsolventsareusedinpaints:waterbased(referredtoaslatexpaint)andoilbased.Oil‑based solvents are considered more hazardous than latex paint.Oil‑basedsolventsmaycontainmineralspirits(naphtha)orpetroleumdistillates(toluene,xylene)thataretoxicandflammable.Chemicalsusingoil‑basedpaintstendtobepersistentintheenvironment,andtherefore may enter the food chain. Highly volatile sol-ventsusedinsomeoil‑basedpaintsbuildupintheair,increasingexposuretoourlungswhenwebreathe.TheEPAdeterminedthatpaintfumesarethenumberoneindoorairpollutant.Asoil‑basedsolventsevaporate,inside air pollution can soar to 1,000 times greater than outside air quality. In addition to their toxic nature, mostoil‑basedsolventsareflammable.

Pigments and Additives

Pigments, or the coloring in the paint, may contain heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, chromium, and

zinc.Paintadditivesincludefungicides,whichalsomay contain heavy metals. Heavy metals remain in the environment and enter food chains. The paint industry has recently decreased its useofheavymetals.Mercuryisnolongerusedasafungicide.AsofAugust20,1990,mercurywasbannedfromuseinindoorlatexpaints.ByMay1991,allpaintmanufacturers had voluntarily discon tinued using mercuryinexteriorlatexpaintandcoatings.However,olderpaints(thekindfoundinbasements)maycontainsignificant amounts of lead and mercury.

What Are Some Solutions?Thefollowingarewaystoeliminateorreduce problemsassociatedwithpaintuseanddisposal:

• Usewater‑basedpaintswheneverpossible.Sincelatexpaintuseswaterasitssolvent,itissafertousethanoil‑basedpaints.

• “Natural”paintsarenowbeingmanufactured.Most“natural”paintsaremanufacturedwithsubstancessuchasbeeswax,plantwaxes,andlinseedoilratherthanpetroleum‑basedsolventsanduselesstoxicpigments.

• Whenusingoil‑basedsolvents,usetheleasthaz-ardous.Ifyouchoosetouseanoil‑basedpaintorrelatedproduct,lookforthoseingredientsthataremoderately toxic (alcohols,ketones,esters,petro-leumdistillates,andacetone).Avoidhighly toxic ingredients(benzene,toluene,xylene,methylenechloride,andtrichlorobenzene).

• Buyonlyasmuchpaintasyouneedtodothejob.Calculating the exact amount of paint needed to do thejobwillavoidtheproblemofwhattodowithleftover paint.

• Donateleftoverusablepainttogroupsinneed.Pleasedon’tdumpyourproblemonsomeoneelse.Makesurethegroupstruly have a use for your leftover paint.

• Bringunwantedpaintto“PaintDropand Swaps”ifsucheventsareheldinyour area.

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The most frequently used household pesti cides aredisinfectants,mothballs/flakes,petfleacollars,“no‑peststrips,”andlawn/gardencareproducts.Manydisinfectantscontaintoxicsolvents(toluene,methy-lenechloride).Mothballs’strongtoxicvapors(naph-thalene)easilyenterthebodybyinhalation.Somepetflea products often do more damage to the pets than tothefleas.Especiallyproblematicarethoseproductscontainingorganophosphatesandcarbamatecom-pounds.Aswithmothballs,“no‑peststrips”constantlyemitvapors.Thelargestgrowingsectorofthepesti-cideindustryiscommerciallawncareproducts.

Concerns Surrounding Pesticide Use

Pesticides work overtime. Once in the environment, pesticides may do more than their intended purpose. Pesticidescankillnotonlythepestbutitsnaturalpredatoraswell.Thusthenaturalbalancebetweenpredator and prey is disrupted.

Pesticides move away.Windsblowpesticideshun-dreds of miles from the original spraying location. Littleofthepesticideappliedactuallyreachesitsin-tended victim. Of the approximate 2.5 pounds per acre of pesticide applied each year in the U.S., often less than 0.1 percent reaches the target organism.

Pesticides can be persistent. Although natural pro-cessesbreaksomepesticidesdownintonontoxiccompounds, some are dangerous for a long time. These persistent pesticides can enter the food chain and travel allovertheworld.Infact,DDThasbeenfoundinthecells of animals in Antarctica.

“Superpests” are created.Nomatterhoweffectiveapesticideis,somepestswillsurviveandreproduce.Thisnextgenerationwillbeevenmoreresistantto thepesticide.Morethan400insectspeciesarenowresistant to some chemical insecticides.

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Paint‑Related Products

Hazardousproductsassociatedwithpaintinclude thinners, lacquers, turpentine, stains, and strippers. Manyoftheseproductscontainorganicsolventsthatareflammableandtoxic.Other“hardware”products,such as sealants and adhesives, may also contain hazardous ingredients. Wood preservatives, technically classifiedaspesticidesbecausetheykillfungus,areone of the most hazard ous products found in the home.

4. PesticidesPesticides are classified according to “target” organ-isms, or those pests that they are “out to get.” For example, insecticides target insects, fungicides target molds and fungi, rodenticides target small mammals such as rodents, disinfectants target microorganisms, andherbicidestargetvariousplantspecies.Themostdangerouspesticidesarenotavailableforgeneralhouseholdusebyconsumers.Thosethatareavailableare more strictly regulated than other household haz-ardous products. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (1947, amended most recently in 2008)regulatespesticidemanufacture,labeling,useand disposal for agricultural, forestry, household, and other activities.

What Are the Problems?There are both health risks and environmen tal con-cernsassociatedwithpesticides.Thesepoisonshavebecomewidelyacceptedinourhomes.Theyarefrequentlyusedonfoodthatwegrowandeat,and in placeswherewespendourleisuretime.Ninety‑fivepercent of the U.S. population use some type of chemi-calpestcontrolintheirhomes,lawns,andgardenseveryyear.Aboutoneoutoftenhomesusessometypeoflawncarepesticide.

To help identify the contents of old latex paint, call the National Pesticide Information Center (1‑800‑858 ‑7378). Houses painted before the lead paint ban may have poison‑ous paint on the walls. Call your local Health Department or Penn State Cooperative Extension office to find out how to have the paint tested for lead.

A Poison By Any Other NamePesticidesarepoisonsbydefinitionandhavefar‑reachingeffectsonanorganism’shealth.Infact, some pesticides can cause cancer, genetic mutations,orbirthdefects.A1987studybytheNational Cancer Institute found that children livinginhomeswherehouseholdandgardenpesticideswereusedhadasmuchasseventimesgreaterchanceofdevelopingchildhoodleukemiathanchildrenwholivedinpesticide‑freehomes.

partofanecosystem,providinghabitatandfoodtoother species in that system. Every “pest” has a role in nature,eventhoughitmayinterferewithsomehumanactivities.

Home Hints

Inordertoavoidusingpesticides,ahomemustbemain tained so that it is unattractive to pests. Some easy waystoachievea“unattractive”homearetokeepthehousecleanandfreefromfoodcrumbs,storefoodintight-fitting containers, eliminate sources of free-stand-ingwater,andfillcracksinthehouse.Beforeresort-ing to pesticides, try mechanical means of pest control, such as flyswattersorwindowanddoorscreens. Use natural repellents for certain insects species. Basil, dried lavender, cedar chips, or pyrethrum daisyflowerscanbeusedtodetermoths.There’snodoubtthatthesenontoxic repellents certainly smell betterthanmothballs!

Garden Ideas

Gardens,too,canbetransformedinto places that pests naturally avoid. What is in your garden and its placement help control pests. Somebasicideasincludeavoid-ingmonocultures(plantingonespecies),plantingdifferentspeciestogether(companionplanting),rotating crop species from one year to the next, and planting species thatattackpredatorspecies.

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What we don’t know CAN hurt us! Some authorities believethatmanypesticideshavenotbeenadequatelytested for their chronic health effects. The EPA is reevaluatingthe50,000registeredpesticides(contain-ingabout1,400differentactiveingredients)presentlyonthemarket.Approximatelyone‑thirdofcommonlyusedlawncarepesticideshavenotbeenadequatelytested.ThisenormoustaskmaytaketheEPAuntilthetwenty‑firstcenturytocomplete.

Banned pesticides may still be around. Banned pes-ticidesstillcauseproblems.Old,unusedpesticidesarestillfoundinmanybasements.Ifyoufindoldpesticides in your house, call the manufac turer to help identifyanybannedchemicalingredients.Ifyouhavebannedpesticides,contactyoursolidwasteauthorityortheDepartmentofAgriculture. Bannedpesticidesalsocomebacktohauntusin foods imported from developing nations. Although bannedfromuseintheU.S.,manypesticidesarestilllegally manufactured in the U.S. and exported for use in other countries.

What Are Some Solutions?Therearemanywaystokeepthehome,garden,andlawnfrombeingoverrunby“pests”withoutusing pesticides. An important step in natural pest control istoreassessvalues.Howimportant is a perfect, round, red apple? What are the health and ecological consequencesofadandelion‑freelawn? Theverydefinitionof“pest”needstobeexam-ined. A pest is defined as a plant or animal that is “detrimental to humans.” This definition leaves a questionaboutwhodecideswhatisdetrimental.Forexample,dandelionsareconsideredbysometobeweeds,andbyotherstobeawildflowerandaningre-dientforasaladorwine.Dandelionsareanintegral

Lawn Care

Lawncarepesticidesareoftenusedforaestheticreasons.Itisimportanttoweighthepossibleenviron-mentalandhealthconsequencesofusinglawncarepesticidesagainstthevalueofalawnfreeofcrabgrass.Lawnsareessentiallymonocultures,notnaturalsys-tems, and deplete the soil of nutrients. They are inher-entlyweakandpronetodisease.Inordertoachievea“perfectgolfcourselook,”lawnsrequirelotsofenergyand chemicals. By accepting a less than “perfect” lawn,onecansignificantlydecreasetheuseofpesti-cides.Naturallawncaremethodsincludemowinglessfrequently,growingamixtureofgrassspecies,water-ingdeeply,andcreatingahabitatforinsect‑eatingbirdsandbeneficialinsects.

5. Miscellaneous Household Hazardous Products

Example: Dry Cell Batteries

What Is the Problem?Althoughdrycellbatteriesaregenerallyconsideredsafetouse,thesealedheavymetalcomponents(mer-cury,cadmium,silver)poseaseriousdisposalproblem.

Mercuryandotherheavymetalstendtobepersistentintheenvironmentandworktheirwayupthefoodchain.Chronicexposuretomercurycauseskidney,liverandbraindamage,aswellasbirthdefects.Airexposure tocadmiummaycauselungandkidneydamage. Cadmium is also a suspected human carcinogen. U.S.consumersusemanybatteries.Batterymanufacturersestimatethattwobilliondrycellbat-teries are sold in the U.S. each year. The Waste Watch Center estimates that each person in the U.S. generates anaverageof1.7poundsofwastedrycellbatterieseachyear.However,perhapsofgreaterconcernisthequantityofwastebatteriesgeneratedbycommercial,military, medical, and industrial sources. For example, householdsaccountforonlyabout27percentofthetotal172.6tonsofwastebuttoncellbatteries(mercuricoxide)disposedofyearly(1988). Itispossibletocollectandreclaimsomeoftheheavymetalsindrycellbatteries.But,thisiseasiersaidthandone.Sincedrycellbatteriescontaindif-ferenttypesofheavymetals,thebatteriesneedtobeseparatedbyspecifictypeofbattery.Tellingbatterytypesapartcanbeaveryconfusingtaskforthegeneralpublic.Mostpeoplearenotawarethatthebatteryusedinaflashlightisverydifferentfromthebatteryusedinawatch.

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Types of Dry Cell BatteriesThefollowinglistwillhelpyouidentifytypesofbatteries.Thoselistedrequirethemostattentionduetotheir contents or volume.

Mercuric oxide(buttoncell)batteriescontainsignificantamountsofmercury(30–40percent).Theyarecommonlyusedinhearingaides,medicaldevices, watches,cameras,etc.Anothertypeofbuttoncellbatteryisthesilveroxidebattery.

Nickel cadmium(rechargeable)batteriesarethetopcontributorofcadmium(52percent)tothemunicipalsolidwastestream.“Ni‑cads”arecommonlyusedinrechargeabletools,smokealarms,insidehouseholdappliances,andtelephones.Intheoryanickelcadmiumbatterycanberechargedupto1,000times.Generally,oneni‑cadbatteryisrechargedenoughtimestoreplace150alkalinebatteries.Byusingni‑cadbatteries,youreducetheamountofmercuryenteringthewastestreambutincrease the amount of cad mium.

Alkalinebatteries(the“long‑lifeCandDcells”)containsomemercury.Althoughtheamountofmercuryhasbeensteadilydecreasinginrecentyears,thesheervolumeoftheiruseraisessomeconcerns.Alkalinesarefoundinnumerousproducts—(toys,flashlights,radios)andhavebeenreplacingthecarbon zincbatteries.

What Are Some Solutions?

Source Reduction

Thebatteryindustryisworkingtodecreasetheheavymetalcontentofsomebatteries.Forexample,inthepasttenyearstheamountofmercuryinalkalinebat-teries has decreased dramatically. In the early 1980s, batteriesreportedlycontained1percentmercury.By1992,mostmajormanufacturershadlow‑mercurybrandsofbatteriescontainingfrom0.025to0.1per-centmercury.A“cadmium‑free”batterytoreplace thenickelcadmiumrechargeablebatteryisbeing developed.Solarbatteriesarealsobecomingavailable.

Recycling

Atpresent,veryfewtypesofdrycellbatteriescan actuallyberecycled.Heavymetalsfrombuttoncellbatteriesandni‑cadsarecollectedforreclamationinthis country. Collection programs that accept all types ofbatteriesareprobablynotrecyclingthem.Itisoftentoodifficultanddangeroustoseparatedifferentbatterytypes;therefore,mixedbatteriesareoftendisposedofashazardouswaste.

C. Reduction Begins at HomeMinimizingtheuseofhazardousproductsreducestheamountofhazardouswasteahouseholdgenerates.Herearesomegeneralguidelinestofollowtomaintaina less hazardous home.

•Before you buy a product, read the label.Lookforthewords“caution,”“danger,”and“warning.”Iftheproductlabelhasthosewords,youknowyou’re buyingahazardousproduct.

Ask yourself:

•CanIusesomethingelse?If you find yourself buyingahazardousproduct,seeifyoucanuseanother product that does not include hazard ous ingredients.

•DoIreallyneedthishazardousproduct?If you do notknowofanylesshazardousalternatives,weightherisksofusingahazardousproductasopposedtonotdoingthejobatall.Askingthisquestionwillhelpyouestablishandexamineyourvalues.Eachpersonmustmakethisdecisionbasedonhis/herownpriorities.

•DoIknowhowmuchoftheproductIneed? Toavoidtheproblemofleftoverhazardousproducts,besureyouknowexactlyhowmuchoftheproductyouneedtodothejob.

•CanIsafelystoreanddisposeofwhatI’m buying?Ifyoudecidetobuyahazardousproduct,make sureyouhaveaplacetostoreit.Flammableproductsneedtobestoredawayfromheatsources;allhazardousproductsneedtobekeptdrytopreventcorrosionandoutofthereachofchildren.Also,askyourself if disposal of its excess contents requires specialhouseholdhazardouswastecollection,andifthat option exists in your community.

D. Reducing Risks: General Safety Guidelines for Hazardous ProductsAttimesitisunavoidabletouseaproductwithhazard-ousingredients.Youcan,however,minimizetherisks.If you choose to use products that contain hazardous ingredients,beawareofthefollowingsafetyrules.

Read labels. Althoughproductlabelsdonotalwaysgivecompleteinformation,someprecautionsmaybelisted.Itisimportanttounderstandthedirectionsbe-foreusingahazardousproduct.Pleasenote,however,thatantidoteslistedonproductlabelsmaybeinad-equate or incorrect. Consult your local poison control centerforcorrectantidoteinformationbeforeusingany hazardous product.

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Wear protective clothing. Gloves,safetyglasses,andrespiratorsmayberequiredinordertosafelyusea hazardous product. Wear clothing other than your everydayclotheswhenworkingwithhazardousprod-ucts,andline‑dryyourclothesifpossible(higherdryertemperaturecouldigniteremainingflammablevapors).Alsoavoidwearingsoftcontactlenseswhileusingvolatilesolvents.Theselensescanabsorbthechemicalandholditnexttotheeye,causingirritation,burns,orextensivedamage.Volatilesubstancesareliquidsthatevaporate easily into a gaseous form.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke when using hazardous products.

Avoid the “more is better” syndrome.Donotas-sumethatusingmoreofaproductwillincreasetheproduct’sperformance.Thisisespeciallytruewhenusingpesticides.Excessiveapplicationswillwipeoutbeneficialinsectsaswellaspestsandcausemoreharmthan good.

Understand the statement “Use in a well-ventilated area.” This statement is commonly seen on product labelsbutisrarelydefinedclearly,anditfrequentlyisdisregarded.Awell‑ventilatedareadoesnotmeanaworkroomwithanopenwindow,especiallyifthewindhappenstobeblowingin.Workoutdoorswheneverpossible,andifyoucannot,besuretotakefreshairbreaksduringyourjob.Anexhaustfanthatremovesthefumes(becarefulnottorecirculatethem)fromthearea is ideal. Wear a respirator if the fumes are toxic.

Never mix chemicals.Donotbefooledintothinkingthatcombiningtwodifferent extra- strength cleaners willproduceasupercleaner.Manufacturersarenotrequired to list the exact chemical ingredients on the label;therefore,youcanneverbesurewhatitisyouare mixing.

Always replace the caps on containers while using products.Manyproductsmay contain chemicals that areextremelyvolatileandevaporatequicklyintotheirsurroundings.Airbornefumescanbeharmfultohu-man and animal health.

Clean up after using the product. Rememberthattherag you used to clean up the spilled hazardous product nowcontainsthosesamechemicals.Ragsusedtosoakupsolventsbecomefirehazards.Theyshouldbestoredin a covered metal container for your protection.

Keep products in their original contain ers and out of the reach of children. The container provides nec-essaryinformationabouttheproduct’suseandstor-age. If placed in another container, the product has a highpotentialofbecominga“mystery”product.Suchmysteries are dangerous. Storing hazardous products informerfoodcontainersincreasesthelikelihoodofaccidental poisonings.

Use aerosols with caution. Never puncture the can, as this may cause an explosion. Never place the can near ahighheatsource.Neverthrowapartiallyfullorfullcaninwithregulartrash;itmayexplodeinagarbagetruckwhencompacted.

Use it up.Makesuretheentirecontentsareusedupbeforethrowinghazardousproductsaway.Ifyouareunabletodothis,callyoursolidwasteauthorityforinformationonhouseholdhazardouswastecollectionin your community.

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IV. How ls Household Hazardous Waste Managed?

Therearemanystepsindividualscantaketoreducetheamountofhazardouswastetheygenerate.How-ever,nomatterhowmuchreductionispracticedonanindividuallevel,hazardouswastewillnotbecom-pletely eliminated. Reduction and proper management ofhazardouswasteneedstoberegulatedonthestateand federal levels. There is a long road ahead to properly manage hazardouswaste,eventhoughprogresshasbeenmadeinthelast15years.Hazardouswastemanagementisevolvingfromfocusingonwastedisposaltoexploringsourcereductionandfindingwaystoreducehazardouswastebyalteringthemanufacturingprocess.

A. Hazardous Waste ManagementThefirstrecognitionofthehazardouswastecrisiscamewiththepassageoftheResourceConservationandRecoveryAct(RCRA)in1976.BeforeRCRA,hazardouswastedisposalwasnotfederallyregu-lated. RCRA created federal definition and standards forhazardousandsolidwaste.RCRAestablisheda “cradle-to-grave” disposal system for hazardous wastes.“Cradle‑to‑grave”meansthathazardouswastegeneratorsareresponsiblefortrackingtheirwastefromthemomentitleavesthebuilding(its“cradle”)toagovernment‑approvedhazardouswastedisposalfa-cility(its“grave”).Basically,hazardouswastegenera-torsmustletthefederalgovernmentknowwhattypesofwastetheyareproducing,howmuchwastetheyareproducing,andhowtheyaredisposingofit.Thegenerator’sliabilitydoesnotendatthedisposalfacil-ity.Hazardouswastegeneratorsareaccountablefortheirwasteevenafterithasbeendisposed.If,foranyreason,thehazardouswastedisposalfacilityshouldcauseenvironmentaldamage,allthosewhosentwastethereareresponsibleforthecleanup.Thesedisposalfacilitiesarealsoregulatedbythefederalgovernment. To further refine the system, the Compre hensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (also known as “Superfund”) waspassedin1980.ThislawgivestheU.S.EPAthe authoritytocleanupgroundwatercontamination

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causedbyhazardouswastesitesandaccidental chemicalreleases.ThislawempowerstheU.S.EPAto fine the companiesorpersonsresponsibleforthehazardouswastesite.

Hazardous Waste DisposalNo single method can safely handle all the different typesofhazardouswaste.Wastes,sortedbytreatmentordisposalcategory,areshippedtohazardouswastedisposal facilities in several states and Canada. States withfacilitiesarebecomingincreasinglyreluctanttoaccepthazardouswastefromstatesthatdonothavetheirownfacilities.

What Is Brought to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day?

The percentage of each type ofwastecollectedduringHHW collections varies. However,whenrankedac-cording to product cat egory, therankingsusuallyare:

item rank

Paint and related items 1

Car products 2

Pesticides 3

Household cleaners 4

Disposalmethodsforhazardouswastedependonitsindividualcharacteristics.Methodsinclude:

Biological and Chemical TreatmentThesetypesoftreatmentarecommonlyusedforwa-terywastes.Methodsinvolvebiologicaldecomposition(withthehelpofmicroorganisms),neutralizationwithother chemicals to decrease acidity, and precipitation to remove suspended solids. Any resulting sludge may befurthertreated,incinerated,orsenttoahazardouswastelandfill.

Recycling/ReclaimingSometypesofhazardouswastemayberecycledortheirconstituentsreclaimedsothattheycanbeusedagain.Forexample,somesolventsandlead/acidanddrycellbatteriesmaybereprocessedintousefulproducts.

Solidification and StabilizationHazardouswastesaremademoresolidandimperme-ablethroughchemicalreactions.Theresultingmixtureissenttoahazardouswastelandfill.

Fuel BlendingSolventsandotherflammableliquidsnotsuitableforrecyclingcanbeblendedtomakefuelforindustrialkilnsorboilers.

IncinerationHazardouswasteincineratorsaredesigneddifferentlyfromthoseusedtoburnhouseholdtrash.Hazardouswasteincineratorsburnatmuchhighertemperaturesandareabletodestroysometypesofhazardouswaste.Theresultingashmustbesenttoahazardouswastelandfill.Thereismuchcontroversyaboutanincinera-tor’sabilitytocompletelycontrolpollution.Somebe-lieve that toxic emissions are not completely avoided during incineration and are still emitted despite pollu-tion control devices.

LandfillingAnyhazardouswastethatentershazardouswastelandfills must have already undergone some type of pretreatment.Theselandfillsaredesignedwithpol-lutioncontroldevices,includingthreeimpermeableliners,groundwatermonitoringsystems,andleachatecollectionsystems.Evenwiththesepollutioncontrolsinplace,someareskepticalabouttheabilityofalinedlandfilltocontrolpollution.Manyhazardouswasteshavebeenbannedfromlandfills,includingPCBs(polychlorinatedbiphenyls),dioxin,toxicmetals,andmost organic solvents.

B. Household Hazardous Waste ManagementHouseholdhazardouswaste(HHW)isbecominganessentialcomponentofsolidwastemanagement.Dif-ferenttypesofHHWcollectionprogramsarebeingtestedtofindoutwhichonesworkbest.Thusfar,thecostforcollectingHHWhasbeenhighandtheper-centageofthepopulationparticipatinghasbeenlow.Giventherealityofthehighcostofhazardouswastedisposal, the manage ment challenge is to target the mostdangeroushazardouswasteandkeepitoutofdisposal facilities that are not equipped to handle it.

Single‑Day CollectionsThefirstattempttoseparateoutHHWintheU.S.wassponsoredbytheLeagueofWomenVotersinLexing-ton,Massachusetts,in1982.Sincethenabout2,900collectiondayshavebeenheldin46states.Com-munitygroupsbeganthetrendbysponsoringevents.Governmentagenciesarenowalsotakingresponsibil-ity for managing HHW. Collection events have mainly beenheldforarearesidentsonly.Sincewastegener-atedbysmallbusinessesisregulateddifferently,theyareunabletoparticipateinlocalcollectionevents. Although single-day collections are the most common,theymaynotbethemosteffectivemethod.Participationratesaregenerallylow,withonly2to5percent of the residents participating. Collection days areexpensive:theaveragecostforaone‑dayeventrangesbetween$35,000and$250,000.Unacceptablematerials(explosives,dioxin‑containingwaste,etc.)aresometimesbroughttotheevent.Thispresents organizerswithadilemma:whethertoacceptthewaste(andtheliabilitythataccompaniesthatwaste)atanextremelyhighcost,ornottoacceptthewaste,leavingitsownerfrustratedandpossiblyleadingtoitsimproper disposal.

Permanent Collection facilitiesPermanentcollectionfacilitiesarebecomingmore common means of collecting HHW. Permanent facili-ties are specially designed to store HHW for short periods of time. It is hoped that permanent collection facilitieswillincreasecitizenparticipationbecausethey are more convenient than one-time events. If convenienceisthekeytosuccessfulcollection,thenmobilecollectionunitsmaybethebestbetyet.Mobilecollection units are trailers designed for temporary HHWstorage.Theyareabletotraveltovarious

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locationswithinacommunity.SomecitiesevenpickupHHWrightatthecurb.Curbsidemotoroilcollec-tion is the most common type of program. Unattended toxicsonthecurb,however,areapotentialhazardaschildrenandanimalscouldeasilyspillthemorbeinjuredbythem. Oncehouseholdhazardouswasteiscollected,itissubjecttothesameregulationsashazardouswastegeneratedbyindustriesandisdisposedofinthesamehazardouswastedisposalfacilities.Theultimatedes-tination of HHW de pends on its individual character-istics.Forexample,manypaintsandoil‑basedsolventproductsareburnedinfuelblending.

C. Source Reduction

Reduce It; Don’t Produce ItTheevolutionofhazardouswastemanagementcon-tinues.The“hot”questionisthis:isitbesttoreducehazardouswasteatitssourceortrytomanageadif-ficultwasteproblem?Thelogicissimple:ifyoudon’tproducehazardouswaste,youdon’thavetogetridofit.

Consumer ReductionConsumereducationtoincreasetheawarenessofhaz-ardous product use is an essential part of management. Gettingconsumerstoparticipateinreductionstrategieseasestheburdenofexpensivehouseholdhazardouswastedisposal.Afewstatesacrossthenationhavepassedlegislationtoestablishconsumereducationprograms.

Manufacturing Source ReductionIndustry can also participate insolvingtheproblematitssource.Therearemanybenefitstoproducingalesshazardousproduct,includingdecreasingfactorywork-ers’exposuretodangerouschemicalsanddecreasingtheamountofhazardouswasteproduced.Althoughmanufacturers may have to spend money initially to change processes, they may save money in the long runbyreducinghazardouswastedisposalcosts. Manyindustrieshavealreadytakenstepstoreduce their use of hazardous materials. Others may need more convincing. To help them move in this di-rection,governmentscanprovideincentives(subsidiesforlesshazardousproductionmethods)anddisincen-tives(“pollutiontax”).

Source ReductionProduct substitution is finding nontoxic or less toxicalternativesforthehazardousingredient(s)in products.

Product reformulationisdevelopingnewproductswithfewerhazardousmaterialsthatstillserve the same function.

Equipment modification is improving the efficiencyofequipmentorbuyingnewmachinesinordertoproducefewerhazardouswastes.

Process redesign is changing an industrial pro-cess to reduce the output of hazardous effluent byusinglesswater,reusingsolvents(makingmoreefficientuseofsolvents),andothersimilarapproaches.

Recyclingisusingmaterialswithintheproduc‑tioncyclemorethanonce,wheneverpossible.

Waste exchangeisusingonemanufacturer’swastesinanothermanufacturer’sproductionprocess.

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Selected Basic Cleaning Ingredients

ingredient general use

baking soda cleaner, deodorizer, fire extinquisher, scouring powder

boiling water drain cleaner

borax* cleaner, disinfectant, laundry aid, water softener

lemon cleaner, deodorizer, stain remover

salt cleaner

soap cleaner

whitevinegar cleaner,deodorizer,greasecutter

washingsoda* cleaner,laundryaid,greasecutter,stain remover,watersoftener,disinfectant. Itcanbefoundinthelaundrysectionof grocerystoresnearthedrybleach.

*Theseproductsarenotcompletelynonpoisonousbutarelesstoxic than their ready‑made counterparts.

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Alternative Household Cleaning Solutions

Manyoftheready‑madesolutionswepurchasetocleanandmaintainourhomescontainpoisonousortoxicchemicals.Whilethelabelsontheseproductscontainsignalwords(caution, warning, danger, or poison) to alertusaboutproperuseorpotentialharm,manydonotlistthechemicalingredientsintheproductorhazards associatedwiththechemical.Inmostcases,saferalternativesareavailable.Thebasicingredientslistedbelow canbemixedorusedaloneformanyhouseholdcleaningtasks.Also,intheeventofanaccident,these ingredientscanbeidentifiedbymostconsumersandhealthcareprofessionals.

College of Agricultural Sciences Agricultural Research and Cooperative Extension

Cleaning Hints• Wearglovestoprotecthands.

• Usethesimplest,mildest cleanerthatwillcomplete thejob.

• Nevermixbleachwith ammonia or products that contain these ingredients. Apoisonousgaswillbe produced.

23

Key to Abbreviations c. = cup gal. = gallon T. = tablespoon t. = teaspoon qt. = quart

Usetheseandothercleaningsolutionswithcaution.Keepcleanersoutofthereachofchildrenduringstorageanduse.PennStateassumesnoresponsibilityfortheeffectivenessofthesealternatives.

All Purpose Cleaners1. Mix1t.boraxwith1qt.ofwarmwater.Adda splashoflemonjuiceorvinegartocutgrease.2. Mix2t.boraxand1t.soapin1qt.ofwater. Canbestoredinaspraybottle.3. Mix3T.ofwashingsodaperqt.ofwarm water.

Air fresheners 1. Placedesiredamountofbakingsodainclosed areas such as refrigerator and closets. 2. Put2to4T.ofbakingsodaorvinegarin desired location throughout rooms that need

deodorizing.3. Boil cinnamon, cloves, or your favorite spice.4. Burn matches or a candle.

Carpet Deodorizers1. Sprinklecarpetwithbakingsoda.Wait15 minutes or longer and vacuum.

Disinfectant1. Mix1/4c.boraxin1/2gal.hotwater.

Drain Cleaners1. Preventionisthebestmethod.Useadrain strainer.Donotpourgreasedownthedrain.2. Formaintenance,pourabout1gal.ofboiling waterdownthedrainweekly.3. Useaplungerormetalsnake(snakesmaybe availableatrentalstores).

floor Cleaners1. Woodorvinylfloors.Mix1/4c.oilsoapwith 1gal.ofwarmwater.2. Useamilddetergent.Addafewdropsof vinegar to help remove grease.

Copper1. Applycatsup;washoffquickly.

Silver1. Rubwithapasteofbakingsodaandwater.2. Placeapieceofaluminumfoiltocoverthebottom

ofapan.Add2to3inchesofwater,1t.bakingsoda,and1t.saltperquartofwaterandbringtoaboil.Addsilverpiecesandboil2to3minutes.Makesurethewatercoversthesilverpieces. Removesilver,rinse,dry,andbuffwithasoftcloth.

Oven Cleaner1. Prevention. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the

oven floor. Be careful not to touch the heating element. Clean up spills as soon as they occur.

2. Mix3T.ofwashingsodaperquartofwarmwater.Sprayonandwait20minutes.Scrubwithafinesteelwoolpadifnecessary.

3. Mixthoroughly2t.ofborax,2t.liquidsoap,andwarmwater.Putinaspraybottle.Sprayitonandleavefor20minutes.Scrubwithafinesteelwoolpad if needed.

Tile/Tub/Toilet Cleaner1. Usesoapandspongeorastiffbrushandoneof

thefollowing:bakingsodaorborax.

Window and Glass Cleaners1. Mix1partwaterto1partvinegarinaspraybottle.

Wipeoffwithcleaningcloth.(Note:Ifunusualstreakingoccursduringthefirsttimeyouusethissolution,itisduetothewaxthatsomechemicalglasscleanerscontain.Removewaxwithalittlerubbingalcoholandthencleanwithabovesolution.)

PreparedbyCathyF.Bowen,AssociateProfessor,Family Policy and Consumer Issues Programming,DepartmentofAgriculturalandExtensionEducation

Revisedl/93

24

Sources

The following resources were used in preparing this publication.

American Petroleum Institute. 1991. Waste Oil: Technol ogy, Economics, and Environmental, Health, and Safety Considerations.

Arnold,Karen,etal.1990. Household Batteries in Minne­sota. St.Paul,MN:MinnesotaPollutionControlAgency.

Bellafante,Ginia.1990.“MinimizingHouseholdHazardousWaste.” Garbage. pp. 44–48.

Clark,Susan.1991. “Targeting Toxics in the Waste Stream.” Waste Age. pp. 105–116.

Dadd,DebraLynn.1986. The Nontoxic Home. LosAngeles,CA:JeremyTarcher,Inc.

Dean,Norman.1991. “UsedOil:ResourceorPollutant?” Technology Review.

Dickey,Philip.1990. A Database of Safer Substitutes for Hazardous Products. Seattle,WA:WashingtonToxicsCoalition.

Duxbury,Dana,ed.Household Hazardous Waste Manage­ment News. Andover,MA:WasteWatchCenter.

Duxbury,Dana.1990.“RecentTrendsinHouseholdHaz-ardousWasteManagement.”U.S. EPA Pollution Prevention News. pp. 4–6.

EnvironmentalServicesDivision.1986. Albuquerque Hazardous Waste Collection Project. Albuquerque,NM:EnvironmentalHealthDivision.

The Federation of Ontario Naturalists. 1985. Hazardous Waste. Ontario, CA.

FranklinAssociates.1989. Characterization of Products Containing Lead and Cadmium in Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1970–2000. Washington,DC:U.S.EPA,Office of Solid Waste.

Galvin,David,andRidgley,Susan.Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Project Summary. Seattle,WA:METROMunicipalityofSeattle.

Goodman,Sandra,etal.1989. Guide to Hazardous Products Around the Home. Springfield,MO:HouseholdHazardousWasteProject.

Kenall,Ronald.1982. Toxic Substances in the Environ ment. Dubuque,Iowa:Kendall/HuntPublishingCo.

Johnson,Randy,andHirth,Carl.1990. “Collecting Household Batteries.” WasteAge. pp. 48–52.

Lord,Deirdre.1988.“BurntOutBatteries.”Environmental Action. pp. 16–19.

Lukin,John.1988. Understanding Septic Systems. Rural Community Assistance Program.

Marek,Linda.1984. Water and Sewage Treatment for Small Communities. Burlington,VT:UVMExtensionService.

MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology.1990. Household Hazardous Products and Waste in New Hampshire.

McCann,Micheal.1979. Artist Beware. NewYork,NY:Guptill.

Purin,Gina,etal.1987. Alternatives to Landfilling Household Toxics.Sacramento,CA:GoldenEmpireHealthPlanning Center.

Rathje,William.1897. Characterization of Household Hazardous Waste. U.S. EPA.

Ridgley, Susan. 1982. Toxicants in Consumer Products. Seattle,WA:WaterQualityDivision,Municipalityof Seattle.

SierraClubLegalDefenseFund.1989.The Poisoned Well. Washington,DC:IslandPress.

U.S.GeneralAccountingOffice.1986. Nonagricultural Pesticides: Risks and Regulations.

U.S.GeneralAccountingOffice.1990. Lawn Care Pesticides: Risks Remain Uncertain While Prohibited Safety Claims Continue.

WashingtonDepartmentofEcology.Turning the Tide. Olympia, WA.

AdaptedwithpermissionfrommaterialswrittenbytheAssociationofVermontRecyclers,POBox1244, Montpelier,Vermont05601

DevelopedbyCathyFaulconBowen,AssociateProfessor,DepartmentofAgriculturalandExtensionEducation

VisitPennState’sCollegeofAgriculturalSciencesontheWeb:agsci.psu.edu

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