410 Solid Waste: Turning a Health Risk Into a Resource
Toxic wastes
Toxic wastes are wastes containing chemicals that are very harmful to our
health and the environment. (See Chapter 16 for how toxics harm us.)
The best way to prevent harm from toxic waste is to stop it from being
produced. Governments should ban toxic products and production processes.
Communities can promote the use of alternatives to toxic household products
and labor unions can promote alternatives in industry. Making collection or
drop off centers for toxics convenient can keep them from polluting land and
community water systems.
(For safer substitutes to commonly used household toxics, see page 373.
To learn more about toxics, see Chapters 14, 16, and 20.)
Destroy toxic materials
containers so they cannot be
used to store other things,
especially food or water.
Safe handling and disposal of toxic wastes
Because safe disposal of toxic wastes can be
complicated and costly, it is best if governments
enforce guidelines for the use, storage, and disposal
of toxics. This should include education and
training of community members to safely handle
and get rid of toxic wastes. Here are some practical
guidelines for handling toxic wastes:
• Store toxic products away from food and water,
and away from where children can reach them.
• Keep toxic products in their original containers,
and never remove the labels. This helps prevent
the containers from being reused for water or
food storage.
• Keep toxic wastes separate from other
household wastes.
• Do not burn toxic wastes! This spreads the
chemicals through ash and smoke, and
sometimes it creates even more dangerous
chemicals.
• Do not put toxic materials down latrines,
toilets, drains, drainage channels, in
waterways, or onto the ground.
Check with local health authorities and resource
recovery centers to learn the best ways to get rid of
toxic wastes in your area.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012