Hazardous Waste Overview

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• published: 27 Aug 2015
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Welcome to Boulder County, surrounded by over 98,000 acres of recreational open spaces, and home to Colorado's’ largest state university, Boulder County is a mecca for enthusiastic adventurers and artisans alike. I'm here at Boulder County's Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) where they process the hazardous materials that cannot be traditionally recycled or safely disposed of in a landfill. Many products used in our homes, yards, workshops and garages contain hazardous ingredients and need to be used and stored safely. Materials include: cleaners, auto products, paints, remodeling supplies, garden products, hobby, pool/spa cleaners, and pet products. When you decide to discard such products, they become hazardous waste. Products from a single home may seem insignificant, but when people use and dispose of them improperly the combined effect becomes a major problem. Especially considering that the average household has 3-8 gallons of hazardous waste on premise. Improper disposal of hazardous waste includes throwing it in the trash; pouring it on the ground; flushing it down the toilet, sink or drain; and pouring it in the gutter or storm drain. When it is used, stored or disposed of IMPROPERLY, hazardous waste poses a threat to our families, pets, neighborhoods and environment. So what makes a product Hazardous? All hazardous products exhibit at least one of these properties: Toxic-can cause injury or death when inhaled, eaten, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin; Flammable-easily ignites and burns rapidly-Inflammable means flammable; Corrosive-can burn skin on contact and can eat away the surface of other materials; Explosive-can react with air, water or other substances to produce toxic vapors or explosions. In 2011 Boulder County opened the HMMF, a 4,000 square foot facility dedicated solely to disposing and reusing hazardous materials. The facility is located at 1901 63rd St, Boulder CO and is open to the public Wednesday -Saturday 8:30am-4:00pm.You can dispose up to 40 gal/400lbs a day of hazardous materials, so look for the carts provided out front of the facility to help transport your hazardous materials inside. Once you have your waste loaded onto the cart, wheel it inside to the desk where a Boulder County Hazardous Waste Specialist will check it in and start the sorting process. So what happens to all the hazardous waste when you drop it off? Well, it all depends on what it is. The HMMF accepts cleaners, automotive, pool/spa, garden, fluorescent bulbs, paints, photo and hobby products, rechargeable and lead acid batteries and 1 lb. propane cylinders. Depending on the material and amount, your hazardous waste has the potential to become part of the Reusable Products program. In an effort to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be processed or put into a landfill, the HMMF will put out materials that have been dropped off that can still be used, and at no cost to you!! So before you start that next project and head to the store, stop by the HMMF and see if you can help your community and your wallet by choosing to reuse. But what happens to the materials that cannot be included in the Reusable Products program? Things like oil, anti-freeze and gasoline will be put into holding tanks before being recycled and reused as new oil, anti-freeze and asphalt. Paint and stain will be combined into large drums and given to a paint recycler to make into new paint. Other materials will be consolidated and transported to facilities that will recycle or safely dispose of them. It’s not always easy to tell whether or not a material is hazardous, so look for warning words like Poison, Toxic, Corrosive, Volatile, Flammable, Inflammable, Combustible, Explosive, Danger, Caution, Warning or harmful. And remember, there are safer alternatives to most chemical cleaners. Look for products with the Safer Choice label. The label will help identify cleaning and other products that perform well and are safer for human health and the environment, and protect your family's health and the planet. The Hazardous Materials Management Facility serves residents of Boulder County, City and County of Broomfield, and the Town of Erie. This program is funded by municipalities based on participation by their residents. Hazardous materials drop-off is free to residents, although donations are accepted to help off-set operational costs. Please bring a driver’s license or other proof of residency. Together we can make Boulder County a Zero -Waste community. For more information on proper disposal of hazardous wastes please visit www.bouldercountyrecycls.org or stop by the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Facility and talk with a Specialist.