Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

What can I do to reduce my use of hazardous products?

Think before you buy! Choose safer alternatives whenever possible, for example, choose water-based products over solvent-based ones. Avoid aerosols if you can. Avoid products containing chlorinated compounds, petroleum distillates, phenols and formaldehyde. Avoid chemical air fresheners. Try to buy only what you need so you aren't left with hazardous waste. Give left over products to a responsible neighbor or friend who can use it up. Plant pest- and disease-resistant species of plants in your garden. Reassess your tolerance of pests and if you must kill them, learn how to target them more effectively.

Never use banned or restricted pesticides or products. The Environmental protection Agency (EPA’s) web site at www.epa.gov/oppfead/international/piclist.htm lists banned or restricted pesticides and products including but not limited to:

• aldrin

• asbestos (all forms)

• benzene hexachloride (BHC)

• cadmium compounds

• calcium arsenate

• carbon tetrachloride

• chlordane

• diazinon

• dibromochloropropane (DBCP)

• DDT

• dieldrin

• dinoseb

• endrin

• heptachlor

• hexachlorobenzene (HCB)

• lead arsenate

• mirex

• phenylmercury acetate (PMA)

• phenyl- mercuric oleate (PMO)

• silvex

• sodium arsenite

• sodium arsenate

• strychnine

• sulfuric acid

• 2,4,5- trichloro-phenoxyacetic (245-T)

• vinyl chloride

For more information contact EPA Region 8 at 303.312.6149, or Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303.693.3300.