Household Hazardous Waste Collection: A Program Guide for Tribal Governments


United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
   Pacific Southwest
   Region 9
EPA-909-K-07-001
2007
Household Hazardous
Waste Collection
A Program Guide for
Tribal Governments
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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               Introduction - Use of this Guide
Purpose
This guide provides tribal governments with the tools to start or link to an
existing household hazardous waste (HHW) collection program. The guide
describes what household hazardous waste is and presents ideas on how
to collect and handle different types of household hazardous waste.
U.S. EPA's relationship with tribes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 1984 Indian Policy lays
the  groundwork for EPA assistance on tribal lands. EPA is committed
to working closely, in a government-to-government relationship, with tribal
governments in making decisions and managing environmental programs
affecting tribal lands. EPA's Tribal Solid Waste Program works directly with tribal
governments to address solid waste issues, such as cleanup of open dump
sites, developing integrated solid waste management plans, and siting solid
waste landfills.

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Introduction Use of this Guide
1. Purpose
2. U.S. EPA's relationship with tribes

Chapter 1 Information about Household Hazardous Waste 2
1. What is household hazardous waste?
2. What's the difference between household hazardous waste and other hazardous
waste?
3. Products found in homes that are typically considered household hazardous waste
4. How do states in the Pacific Southwest define household hazardous waste?
5. Why is it important to dispose of household hazardous waste properly?
6. How do you reduce household hazardous waste?
7. What types of household hazardous waste collection programs exist?
8. What safety precautions should be taken when collecting and storing household
hazardous waste?
Chapter 2 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs
1. Frequently asked questions about household hazardous waste collection
2. Household hazardous waste collection program options
3. Household hazardous waste collection program participation rates
4. How are household hazardous waste collection programs funded?
5. How can I reduce costs in the future?
6. Training for household hazardous waste handling
Chapter 3 Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste 13
1. Frequently asked questions on disposal
2. Disposal of specific household hazardous waste: used oil, batteries, rechargeable
batteries, e-waste, mercury-containing lamps, mercury thermometers, and
needles (sharps)
Chapter 4 Resources 15
1. U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9 Tribal Solid Waste Team contact information
2. State environmental contacts
3. Internet resources and household hazardous waste publications

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   CHAPTER 1
   Information about Household Hazardous Waste
What is a household hazardous waste?
The federal government defines household
hazardous waste (HHW) as,"leftover household
products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable,
or reactive  ingredients." Examples include paints,
cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides that
contain  potentially hazardous ingredients. These
products require special care when you dispose
of them. Household hazardous waste does NOT
include waste from businesses, government or
schools. It also does NOT include explosives or
radioactive waste, regardless of origin. Household
hazardous waste is exempt from federal
hazardous waste regulations under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle
C. Programs that collect such waste do not need
a Subtitle C permit or EPA identification number.
Household hazardous waste  can be transported
without following hazardous waste transportation
regulations.
                  What is the difference between household
                  hazardous waste and hazardous waste as
                  defined by the federal government?
                  Hazardous waste (HW) is waste that is produced
                  by businesses, government agencies, or schools,
                  and that contains corrosive, toxic, explosive,
                  radioactive, ignitable, toxic or reactive materials.
                  EPA, under RCRA Subtitle C, strictly regulates the
                  storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal
                  of hazardous waste. These regulations apply to
                  businesses that produce a certain threshold of
                  hazardous waste.
                  Although household hazardous waste is exempt
                  from federal hazardous waste regulations, some
                  states follow stricter regulations than the federal
                  government. State  regulations are included in this
                  guide to provide tribes with information on the
                  differences between federal and state regulations.
Products in homes that are typically considered household hazardous waste
Cleaning Products
• Bleach (laundry)
• Drain cleaners
• Oven cleaners
• Pool chemicals
• Toilet cleaners
• Tub, tile, shower cleaners
• Wood and metal cleaners and polishes
Indoor Pesticides
• Ant sprays and baits
• Bug sprays
• Cockroach sprays and baits
• Flea repellents and shampoos
• Houseplant insecticides
• Lighter flu id
• Moth repellents
• Mouse and rat poisons and baits
Automotive Products
• Air conditioning refrigerants
• Antifreeze
• Automotive batteries
• Carburetor and fuel injection cleaners
• Compressed gas cylinders
• Diesel fuel
• Fuel additives
• Gas/oil mix
• Motor oil
• Propane tanks
• Starter fluids
• Transmission and brake fluid
Workshop/Painting Supplies
• Adhesives and glues
• Fixatives and other solvents
• Furniture strippers
• Oil or enamel based paint
• Paint strippers and removers
• Paint thinners and turpentine
• Photographic chemicals
• Stains and finishes
Lawn and Garden Products
• Fungicides/wood preservatives
• Herbicides
• Insecticides
Miscellaneous
• Batteries
• Driveway sealer
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Home heating oil
• Kerosene
• Mercury thermostats or thermometers
                                            Information about Household Hazardous Waste • CHAPTER 1

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How do states in the Pacific Southwest
define household hazardous waste?
California: California has stricter definitions than
the federal government. Household hazardous
waste is not exempt from state regulations and
is considered hazardous waste as soon as a
collection  program receives the waste.  It is illegal
to place fluorescent lamps, batteries, televisions
and computer monitors in the trash.
Nevada and Arizona: The state regulations are the
same as the federal regulations.
Tribes may decide to include stricter definitions
and guidelines than the federal regulations for
management of household hazardous waste in
their "Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan."
Why is it important to dispose of household
hazardous waste properly?
Household hazardous waste should be  disposed
of properly to prevent hazardous materials from
ending up in the garbage or being dumped on
the reservation where  it could harm people or
animals. Such  dumping may endanger cultural
sites, contaminate water and soil, harm plant
and animal life, as well as spoil the natural
beauty of the land.
How do you reduce household
hazardous waste?
Any tribal household hazardous waste collection
program should include a reduction strategy.
A key component of this strategy is consumer
education. Resources are available on the
Internet about home alternatives to household
hazardous waste.
• U.S. EPA in conjunction with Purdue University
  developed a comprehensive guide comparing
  the effectiveness of commercial cleaners vs.
  alternative cleaners such as vinegar, borax and
  ammonia:
  http://www.purdue.ectu/dp/envtroson/housewaste/
  src/research. htm
• The City of Santa Monica, CA created a list
  comparing commonly used household products
  and environmentally safer products:
  http://santa-monica.org/epd/printed_materials/HHW_
  Alts_Display_2005.htm
• The City of San Francisco developed a list
  of environmentally preferable cleaners:
  http://www.sfenvironment.com/aboutus/innovative/
  epp/products. htm
What type of household hazardous waste
collection programs exist?
See also Chapter 2, Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Programs, for more detailed information
on possible options.
1) One-time collection event
Hire a contractor to manage and dispose of the
household hazardous waste on the reservation.
This option is best for tribes with  little or no
access to county collection programs, or who
are a great distance from county collection sites.
The household hazardous waste is typically
stored in a locker until the  contractor hauls the
waste to a transfer, storage, or disposal facility.
At that point, the hauler separates the household
hazardous waste into materials to be recycled,
incinerated, or taken to  a landfill.
2) Participate in a nearby tribe, county, or city's
collection event
This option is best for tribes who  are just
beginning a household hazardous waste collection
program as well as tribes with easy access to a
nearby program.  The frequency of collection dates
varies greatly depending on the area. Please
check with nearby counties, cities, or tribes to see
how often collections are held.
CHAPTER 1 - Information about Household Hazardous Waste

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3) Start a multi-community collection event
This is a cooperatively run program with other
tribes or cities. Each participating community
runs simultaneous household hazardous waste
collection events. A special collection truck or
van travels from site to site picking up each
community's household hazardous waste on an
as-needed basis as decided by the consortium.
This option is best for tribes interested in running
their own collection program, but that cannot
afford to do so independently.
4) Start a tribal permanent collection program
This option entails designing a program that
would run on an ongoing basis, either through a
permanent drop-off location for your community or
through curbside collection. The tribe may hire one
contractor to deal with the household hazardous
waste on an as-needed basis, negotiate directly
with individual vendors, or link to the county
collection program. Negotiating with individual
vendors is recommended for tribes with more than
50,000 residents, as individual vendors will often
require large volumes of waste.
Special programs in California
In California, to help reduce costs, some
household hazardous waste programs hire
contractors to manage most household hazardous
waste items, but choose to handle other items
themselves. For example, some programs send
their used oil, computer monitor and television
cathode-ray tubes (CRT), and lamps to be recycled
instead of having the contractor handle these
materials for disposal. For locations that will
accept household hazardous waste materials for
recycling, please see Chapter 3.
What safety precautions should be taken
when collecting and storing household
hazardous waste?
Storage: It is important to have a storage and
disposal plan in place before collection of the
waste. The plan should outline the collection
program, including how long the waste will
be stored and how it will be transported and
disposed of.
Preparing your storage and disposal plan:
Identify whether the waste will be transferred to
a hazardous waste landfill or municipal transfer
station. Your storage and disposal plan should
include sections on chemical safety, staff training,
and emergency response.
Chemical Safety
' As a rule, do not store household hazardous
waste for more than 90-120 days.
• Keep chemicals in their original containers.
Do not mix chemicals.
• Take care to store incompatible classes
of chemicals in separate storage areas.
• If the chemical is unlabeled, ask what the
original owner kept in the container.
• If you receive unknown substances,
keep them separate from other chemicals
to prevent mixing.
Information about Household Hazardous Waste • CHAPTER 1

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 • Be sure all containers are securely closed
  and provide secondary containment to ensure
  that leaks will be confined.
 • Look at the Material Safety Data Sheets
  (MSDS) which include the chemical name,
  company contact information, hazards, and
  appropriate safety precautions. Companies
  are required to publish a MSDS for every
  chemical they produce. You can find the MSDS
  for a specific product by directly contacting the
  company or by searching on the Internet. The
  MSDS  National  Repository website provides
  a free search engine for finding material safety
  data sheets:
  http://www.msdssearch.com/DBLinksN.htm
Staff Training
 ' Staff should know how to pack and separate
  chemicals correctly.
 • Staff should use personal protective clothing
  such as eye protection, gloves, and splash-proof
  clothing or Tyvec suits.
 • Have a self-contained breathing apparatus
  on hand for emergencies. Staff must have
  training to use a respirator and a self-contained
  breathing apparatus. The tribe is required to
  have a medical monitoring plan under Federal
  Regulation 1910.120 if it has a self-contained
  breathing apparatus.
Emergency Response
' Prepare a list of emergency numbers: police
  department, fire department, nearest hospital
  and/or health care facility, etc.
• Notify tribal and/or local police, fire and
  emergency response departments of the
  household hazardous waste collection event.
• Hold the event in a well-ventilated area.
• Leave a space between categories of HHW so
  you can see if containers are leaking.
• Use an area that is sheltered from the wind
  and rain.
CHAPTER 1 • Information about Household Hazardous Waste

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CHAPTER 2
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs
Frequently asked questions:
What is the typical cost for a household
hazardous waste collection program?
See box to the right. If the tribe hires a contractor
to run a one-time event, it will cost between $0.50
and $2.00 per pound of waste. A contractor can
be hired to either run the entire program; provide
staff, materials and transportation; or only to
transport the waste at the end of the collection
event. Contact other counties or tribes in your
geographic area that have held events to get a
better understanding of costs.
How much household hazardous waste should
I expect?
The average amount varies depending on whether
you are in a rural or urban area, if a limit is
placed on the amount households can bring, and
the existing waste disposal options. The typical
amount collected in metro and rural areas differs.
• Metro areas vary between 45 and 75 pounds
per household
• Rural areas vary between 50 and 150 pounds
per household
What is the typical participation rate?
Participation depends on how extensively the
program or event is advertised and how far
residents have to travel to dispose of the HHW.
A tribe located in Northern California held a
one-day event and got about a 35% participation
rate. This tribe was able to achieve such a high
participation rate by holding the event in an
accessible location and providing free pickups
for tribal elders. However, many other communities
have reported rates as low as 2-3%. The
participation rate will also vary depending on
how often household hazardous waste collection
events are held.
What assistance can EPA provide in developing
a collection program?
The EPA Pacific Southwest Tribal Solid Waste
Team can help to find program funding, review
planning documents, and provide general technical
assistance. For contact information, see Chapter
4, "Resources."
Cost formula:
Total cost =
[participation rate x number of households
x cost per pound x number of pounds
per household]
+ tribal staff time
+ other costs*
Tribal staff time =
hourly rate x number of hours per person x
number of people
*0ther costs include sending out and evaluating
requests for bids; advertising the event via
newsletters, radio, TV etc.; vehicle use and fuel
for vehicles; and administrative or overhead costs.
Cost formula example:
Total Cost =
[20% x 100 households x $1.00 x 50 pounds
per household**] + ($20/hr x 100 hours x 3
people)+0ther Costs = $6020.00 + Other costs.
**lt is best to aim high when calculating costs.
Liquids, such as oil, are measured in gallons
or liters, not pounds. Approximate conversion:
30 gallons (about half of a 55-gallon drum)
of waste with a density similar to water weighs
about 220 pounds (100 kilograms).
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs • CHAPTER 2

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Household hazardous waste collection program options
There are four common collection program options:
1. Hire a contractor to run a one-time collection event.
2. Participate in a nearby tribe, county or city's household hazardous waste collection event.
3. Start a multi-community household hazardous waste collection event with nearby tribes and/or towns.
4. Start a tribal permanent household hazardous waste collection program.
1: Hire a contractor to run a one-time collection event

Possible costs
The cost per pound of household hazardous waste disposal generally ranges between $0.50 and $2.00.
• This includes the cost for hiring a contractor to collect and dispose of the waste.
• This does not include tribal administrative or staffing costs on the day of the event.
• Costs vary depending on the amount and type of waste. Some household hazardous waste such as used motor oil
can be recycled.
CHAPTER 2 • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs

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2: Participate in a nearby tribe, county, or city's collection event

Planning
If a nearby tribe, county, or city holds a monthly or annual collection day, you may be able to participate.
1. Make a project timeline. Start planning six months to one year in advance.
2. Determine what type and how much household hazardous waste the reservation generates by taking a sample
of residents' household garbage and/or waste that is illegally disposed of in the community. This is also known
as a waste stream analysis.
3. Contact a neighboring city, county or tribe to if see if they will accept household hazardous waste from outside
of their jurisdiction.
4. Decide how the household hazardous waste will be collected prior to bringing it to the collection event:
Option 1: Residents bring the waste to a central location on the reservation.
Option 2: Residents transport the waste directly to the collection event.
Option 3: Tribal environmental staff collect the waste directly from residents' homes by appointment or on
a regularly scheduled day.
5. Develop and distribute outreach materials.
6. Designate an area to store the waste until it is taken to the disposal station.
7. Advertise the collection day to residents via radio, newsletter, television, and tribal gatherings.
Possible costs
• Consult with neighboring tribe/county/city to determine if the tribe will be charged a user fee.
• Staff safety training.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs • CHAPTER 2

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3: Start a multi-community collection event with nearby tribes and/or towns

How this works: Tribes and/or towns in close proximity coordinate a multi-site household hazardous waste collection
event. A truck that is designed to safely transport household hazardous waste (often called a hazmobile) will visit
a designated spot at a pre-determined time in each participating community.
Planning
1. Make a project timeline. Start planning six months to one year in advance.
2. Determine what type and how much household hazardous waste the reservation generates by taking a sample
of residents' household garbage and/or waste that is illegally disposed of in the community. This is known as
a waste stream analysis.
3. Form a partnership with nearby tribes and/or towns. Entering cooperative agreements with others can lower
collection costs in the long run, but it may take a lot of work to form the partnerships in the beginning. Keep
the following in mind when planning:
a. Who are the potential partners?
b. Does anyone currently have a vehicle appropriate for transporting the waste?
c. Does the staff need to be trained?
d. Do the partners have the financial resources to start the program? If not, are there loans or grants available?
4. Meet to discuss logistics:
a. Who will lead the event? One person? A representative from each group?
b. Who will manage the finances?
c. What needs to be purchased? A truck? Protective gear for staff?
d. Will the vehicle be leased, purchased or rented?
e. How much money will each entity contribute?
5. Determine if a single contractor will be hired to handle all the waste, if the consortium will hire different vendors
for each waste category, or if the waste will be brought to a local city or county-administered collection facility.
6. Decide how the waste will be collected prior to the collection event:
Option 1: Residents bring the waste to a central location on the reservation.
Option 2: Residents transport the waste directly to the collection event.
Option 3: Tribal environmental staff collect the waste directly from residents' homes by appointment
or on a regularly scheduled day.
7. Determine what will happen to the waste once it is collected.
8. Develop and distribute outreach materials.
9. Designate an area to store the waste until it is taken to the disposal facility.
10. Advertise the collection day to residents via radio, newsletter, television, and tribal gatherings.

Possible costs
• Leasing/buying/renting a vehicle for picking up each community's waste.
• Staff safety training.
• Fees charged by contractor for transferring and/or disposing of the waste.
CHAPTER 2 • Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs

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4: Start a tribal permanent household hazardous waste collection program

Planning
1. Make a project timeline. Start planning six months to one year in advance.
2. Determine what type and how much household hazardous waste the reservation generates by taking a sample
of residents' household garbage and/or waste that is illegally disposed of in the community. This is known as
a waste stream analysis.
3. Determine how the waste will be collected. Will the tribe offer curbside collection or a drop-off center? If the
tribe offers a drop off center, how often will it be open?
4. Build a facility to store the waste if necessary. This includes purchasing proper storage containers and securing
the area from potential break-ins, vandalism, or unauthorized entry.
5. There are options for dealing with the waste once it is collected:
Option 1: Hire a contractor to transport all of the waste off the reservation. The contractor will bring the waste
to a transfer, storage or disposal facility where s/he will sort the waste by category (recycle, incinerate,
landfill). The tribe can specify in the contract that it wants all recyclable waste to be recycled rather than
incinerated or landfilled.
Option 2: Contract with different vendors for each type of recyclable item and hire another contractor to deal
with all non-recyclable items.
Option 3: Enter into a formal or informal agreement with a local or county collection program and bring the
waste to the local collection facility.
6. Train staff. Typical training includes the standard 24 or 40 hour Hazardous Waste Operators Health & Safety
Training (HAZWOPER). It may also be beneficial to contact other household hazardous waste collection facilities to
arrange to work with those facilities directly to gain hands-on experience.
7. Develop and distribute outreach materials.
8. Advertise the collection day or drop-off center to residents via radio, newsletter, television and tribal gatherings.

Possible costs
• Construction of waste drop-off center or transfer station
• Staff training
• Vehicle that can safely transport household hazardous waste on or off the reservation
• Labor costs for running collection
• The fee charged by local household hazardous waste collection facility
• Contractor fees
Household hazardous waste collection participation rates
The participation rate of any collection program depends on a number of factors including:
1) Residents' method of transferring the household hazardous waste to the collection site:
Option 1: Tribal environmental staff periodically collect the waste from residents' homes.
Option 2: Residents will be responsible for bringing the waste to the collection site. If so, when and how often can
drop-offs be made?
Option 3: Residents make an appointment to have their waste picked up. Elderly residents and those without
transportation may be less likely to participate without special assistance. However, individual pickups could
significantly increase costs.
2) Proximity to collection site. The closer the site is to residents, the higher the participation rate will be.
3) Weather. Residents are less likely to participate in bad weather.
4) Extent of outreach/education. How many people were notified of the program? How often was it advertised?
Where was it advertised?

10 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs • CHAPTER 2

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Collection Options Pros and Cons
(see table below)
How are household hazardous waste
collection programs funded?
Start-up costs:
• EPA Tribal General Assistance Program (GAP)
  Grants:
  http://www. epa.gov/region 09/indian/grants. htm
• EPA tribal solid and hazardous waste grant
  funding:
  http://www.epa.gov/tribalmsw/finance.htm
• The State of California offers household
  hazardous waste grant for which tribes within
  California are eligible:
  http://www. ciwm b. ca.gov/HHW/G rants
• Tribal funds: general fund and/or user fees.
On-going costs:
Federal grants cannot pay for ongoing operation
and maintenance costs associated with a
collection program. Other sources of funds will be
needed to cover ongoing costs. Here are  a few
examples that have  worked for tribes:
 • Create a tribal solid waste utility to charge
  user fees to businesses and/or
  residents. Include solid waste fees in other
  utility bills (such as water or power bills).
 • Create partnerships with nearby tribes or cities
  to run a joint household hazardous waste
  collection program. Sharing equipment, staff,
  and experience could lower costs.
 • Find other sources of tribal funds.
How can I reduce costs in the future?
Reduce your residents' use of products that
become household hazardous waste. The
fewer products in your community that could
be considered hazardous, the fewer items
that the tribe  potentially needs to deal with for
disposal. Here are a few ideas that may help your
community reduce these products:
 • Use rechargeable batteries when possible
 • Switch your cleaning products to
  environmentally friendly cleaners
 • See Chapter 1, "How do you reduce household
  hazardous waste?" for more examples.
Collection Options Pros and Cons
Collection Option Pro Con
One-time collection event
Participate in locally held county-
wide HHW collection event
Multi-community collection event
Permanent in-house collection
program
• Contractor handles the household
hazardous waste
• May not need to train tribal staff
• Less expensive than hiring a
contractor
• Potentially less expensive in the
long run because costs will be
shared
• More control over program
• Can build on already existing
relationships or cooperative
agreements with other tribes or
municipalities
• Potentially less expensive in the
long-run
• More control over program
• Expensive ($12-20,000)
• Hiring a contractor means tribal
staff does not gain experience
for future collection events
• County may limit the amount
and type of waste you can bring
(depends on the county)
• Need well-trained staff
• Start-up costs may be high in
terms of staff time and investment
in a vehicle
• Potential liability
• Need well-trained staff
• Start-up costs may be high
• Potential liability
CHAPTER 2 - Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs
                                            11

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Training for household hazardous waste
handling
Do / need to be trained to deal
with household hazardous waste?
Yes.  It is recommended that anyone handling
potentially hazardous materials be trained in safe
handling.
It may be beneficial to contact other collection
facilities to see if it is possible to work with those
facilities directly for a short time to gain hands-on
experience.
It is advisable that the program manager has
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
Response Standard (HAZWOPER) training. The
manager may wish to hold on-site staff safety
trainings on recognition and handling of different
chemicals.
What trainings are available?
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency
          Response Standard (HAZWOPER) Training is highly
          recommended for persons dealing with household
          hazardous waste. There are different levels of
          training available.
          • The 24-hour HAZWOPER training is a
            basic level training.
          • The 5-day, 40-hour HAZWOPER course
            is designed for people involved with the
            investigation and cleanup of uncontrolled
            hazardous waste sites and, to a lesser extent,
            response to accidents involving hazardous
            materials. It provides basic information needed
            to meet the 40 hours training requirements
            of 29 CFR 1910.120 (e)(3)(i) Hazardous
            Waste Operations and Emergency Response
            (HAZWOPER).
          Various online and on-site trainings are offered
          free of charge by NETI Online, the U.S. EPA
          National Enforcement Training  Institute online
          training resource site.
          http://www.netionline.com
          The U.S. Department of Transportation manages
          the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness
          (HMEP) grant program that provides financial and
          technical  assistance as well as national direction
          and guidance to enhance state, territorial,
          tribal, and local hazardous materials (hazmat)
          emergency planning and training. The HMEP grant
          program distributes fees, collected from shippers
          and carriers of hazardous materials,
          to emergency responders for hazmat training.
          For details, go to:
          http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/state/hmep/hmep.htm
12
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs - CHAPTER 2

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   CHAPTER 3
   Disposal of household hazardous waste
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
Disposal
Where is this waste generally taken after
it is collected?
Disposal or treatment options include: recycling,
landfilling, treating, stabilizing, destructive
incineration, and fuel incineration.
Here are just a few examples of how different
categories of waste are managed:
• Used motor oil is typically sent to a  plant to be
  re-refined and recycled.
• Latex paint in good condition is recycled back
  into latex paint.
• Latex paint in poor condition, for example
  solidified or moldy, is turned into fuel.
• Fluorescent tubes are sent to a lamp recycler.
What household hazardous waste can
be recycled?
Recyclable materials include: used motor
oil, batteries, antifreeze, propane cylinders,
fluorescent lights, car batteries, lead acid gel
batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, lithium
batteries and mercury.
Non-recyclable materials include: acids, flammable
liquids  and solids, and organic peroxides.
Disposal options for these include destructive
incineration, fuel incineration, and landfilling.
If the tribe I work for is not ready to start a
full household hazardous waste collection
program, can I still encourage my community
to collect certain items?
Yes. The following pages tell where the tribe and/
or individuals can take items that are commonly
collected throughout the Pacific Southwest,
including used oil, electronic wastes such as cell
phones and computers, and batteries. Also check
with your county.
Where can I take household hazardous waste?
By simply typing in your zip code, the Recycling
Hotline website helps you locate recycling centers
for hazardous and non-hazardous items in your
community.
http://www. earth 911. org/master. asp
Disposal for specific kinds of household
hazardous waste
Used Oil
The following are state resources for disposing
of used oil:
  California:
  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/UsedOil/CnCntrs.asp
  Nevada:
  http://ndep.nv.gov/bwm/hazard20.htm
  Arizona:
  http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/so/id/oil.htm/
Batteries
Batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury,
lead, cadmium, and nickel, which  can contaminate
the environment when batteries are improperly
disposed of. When incinerated, certain hazardous
metals may be released into the air or can
concentrate in the ash produced by burning.
Caution is needed when storing batteries.  Batteries
can corrode and become explosive. To prevent
corrosion from occurring, tape the ends of the
batteries with masking tape.
Rechargeable Batteries
The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
(RBRC), a nonprofit, targets four kinds of
rechargeable batteries for recycling: nickel-
cadmium (Ni-Cad), nickel metal hydride, lithium
ion, and small-sealed lead. Its "Charge Up to
Recycle!" program offers various recycling plans
for communities, retailers,  businesses, and
public agencies, http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-
hw/muncpl/battery.htm
CHAPTER 3 - Disposal of household hazardous waste
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Electronic Waste (e-waste)
Many electronics, such as computers, televisions
and stereos, contain hazardous heavy metals.
Work with your purchaser to see if a buy back
program  is available from the vendor.
• The California Integrated Waste Management
  Board  developed the Electronic Product
  Management Directory, an online list of
  companies that handle e-waste:
  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Electmnics/Collection/default.
  asp
Mercury-Containing Lamps
The following are organizations that recycle
mercury-containing lamps:
• Association of Lamp and Mercury Recyclers:
  http://www.almr.org/
• LampRecyclers.org:
  http://www.nema.org/lamprecycle/
Mercury Thermometers
Mercury,  a highly toxic liquid metal, is often found
in thermometers, blood pressure devices, lab
chemicals, cleaners, and other products used
in health  care and the home. It is important to
dispose of these properly to prevent the mercury
from entering
the environment and poisoning people, animals,
and fish.
If you accept  mercury thermometers as part of
the tribe's household hazardous waste collection
program, tell residents to follow this simple safety
precaution: place the thermometer in a  rigid
plastic container and then seal the container in
a plastic  bag.
If you are interested in holding a mercury fever-
thermometer  exchange, contact Health Care
Without Harm at http://www.noharm.org/of
the Northeast Waste Management Officials'
Association (NEWMOA) at
http://www.newmoa.org/ior more information.
 The following websites provide information on how
 to find mercury recyclers:
  • http://www.ehso.com/mercury.php
  • http://www.almr.org
 Be prepared to deal with other items containing
 mercury, such as thermostats, flourescent light
 bulbs, or even elemental (pure liquid) mercury.
 It is wise to decide ahead of time whether you will
 accept these items.
 If you choose to accept mercury be sure to
 have, and know how to use, a mercury spill kit.
 Needles (Sharps)
 Needles are a safety hazard when placed
 directly into the garbage. If there is a clinic
 on the reservation, check with them about
 best management practices. The following
 websites list resources for how to  safely
 dispose of needles:
  • http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddweffl/envlrQFtfflental/
   med_waste/mailbacksharps/SharpsMailBackList.pdf
  '  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wpie/hea/thcare/PPCP.
   htm#WhereSharps
  • http://www.safeneedledisposal.org/centers.html
14
Disposal of household hazardous waste - CHAPTER 3

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   CHAPTER 4
   Resources
U.S. EPA
U.S. EPA Household Hazardous Waste: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/hhw-list.htm
U.S. EPA Household Hazardous Waste Publications: http://www.epa.gov/msw/hhwpubs.htm
U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest Household Hazardous Waste:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/solid/house.html
For technical advice for tribes on starting a household hazardous waste collection, contact:
EPA Pacific Southwest Tribal Solid Waste Team, (415) 947-8708
http://www.epa.gov/region09/waste/solid/indianwaste.html
For program funding information for tribes, contact: EPA Pacific Southwest Tribal Programs Office,
(415) 947-8704, http://www.epa.gov/region09/indian/

Arizona
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Waste Program:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/index.html
Arizona Hazardous Waste Management: Related Rules and Statutes:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/hazwaste/rules.html

California
California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Department of Toxics Substances Control:
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/
California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB): http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/
California Hazardous Waste and Universal Waste Statutes and Regulations:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/HHW/StatRegs.htm
California Used Oil and Household Hazardous Waste Useful Links:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/HHW/Links.htm
California Unified Program Agency (CUPA): http://www.calcupa.net/index.html

Nevada
Nevada Department of Environmental Quality (NDEP) Tribal Liaison Program:
http://ndep.nv.gov/tribe/tlp.htm
Nevada Recycling Program: http://nevadarecycles.gov/
NDEP Household Hazardous Waste Permanent Facility Guideline: http://ndep.nv.gov/bwm/docs/hhw.pdf

Other Resources
The North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA): http://www.nahmma.org
Earth 911 Household  Hazardous Waste Recycling Sites:
http://www.earth911.org/master.asp?s=ls&a=HHW&cat=9&serviceid=
http://earth911.org/household-products/
National Household Hazardous Waste Forum: http://www.nhhwf.org.uk/
Federal Emergency Management Agency Household Hazardous Materials Independent Study Program:
http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/ls/is55.asp
CHAPTER 4 - Resources
15

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Notes:
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SEFft
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
 Printed on 100% recycled, 50% post consumer waste paper

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