On Throwing Things Away

Now that my week without trash is up, it's time for me to figure out how to get rid of some of the things I've been waiting to dispose.

image from appliancedisposal.org

1. Window air conditioner. We moved into an apartment with central air in August.

We tried posting the window unit on Craigslist and Twin Cities Free Market - all to no avail, even in August, when we were first trying to get rid of it. I realize it's an impossible sell when it's a high of 5 degrees outside...

The gentleman at Goodwill about died when he saw us try to unload it from the back of my car. I still remember his face as he said, "NO, NO!" They must have a policy against taking appliances.

We tried the Ramsey County Household Hazardous Waste disposal site, which said it won't accept it because it's an appliance.

Where are we supposed to get rid of the darn thing the right way? We're going to try to call our waste hauler, or our next step is to pay a place like J.R.'s an arm and a leg to take it away. Policy problem, anyone?

If anyone has any ideas, I would appreciate your advice.

2. Can of PAM. Aerosol! ...meaning it goes to the household hazardous waste disposal site so as not to deplete the ozone.

3. Broken CFL. I am going to enjoy not having this little bit of mercury and glass rattling around in my cabinet anymore.

Hazardous Waste

Image from thebeautybrains.com.

I got really annoyed this morning seeing a discarded bottle of antifreeze in a parking ramp. I'm not going to bust out the crying Indian line - even though I have more American Indian in my blood than Iron Eyes Cody (for the record, a Sicilian) - but antifreeze is super nasty stuff. It used to smell sweeter, and kids would drink it and die. It is toxic, making it hazardous waste.

Many household items are hazardous waste, and it is an important part of being a "green" consumer to understand what is hazardous and what is non-hazardous. The EPA started setting down rules in 1974 in the RCRA legislation (depending on what level of government you work in, you might pronounce that "rick-ra" or "wreck-ra") - the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - defining what is hazardous waste requiring special handling and disposal. It's sort of surprising how many common items are hazardous:

- batteries
- automotive fluids, including oil and antifreeze
- bleach
- paint
- dran-o

There is a rhyme or reason to this: anything flammable, corrosive, or toxic/carcinogenic is hazardous. Governments split it up into "listed" or "characteristic" hazardous waste, but "listed" wastes are mostly things that industries will have to worry about - solvents, etc.

Apart from being a Grammy-winning hit song by Britney Spears, a "toxic" label is one clue that a product is hazardous. If it can poison you, you don't want your garbage person dealing with it. Take it to your local county household hazardous waste disposal site.

If a product is corrosive or flammable (like paint or oil), it is also considered hazardous. Again. Don't throw it in the trash. Take it to your local county household hazardous waste disposal site.

Find out more from the EPA about how to avoid harmful substances.