57 Ways - 26. Dispose Of Adhesives, Aerosols, Household Cleaners And Other Hazardous Waste Safely

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57 Ways To Protect Your Home Environment (and Yourself)

Caring for the Home Landscape

1. Aim for a healthy lawn rather than a perfect lawn
2. Cut the grass without gas
3. Prevent insect, disease, and weed problems in the garden
4. Identify fruits and vegetables that need fewer pesticides
5. Select native trees and shrubs that will thrive in your yard
6. Keep your tress healthy and safe
7. Plant “wild” in your backyard
8. Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard

Using Alternatives to Traditional Pesticides & Fertilizers - Where Practical

9. Scout for pests on the landscape
10. Consider microbial insecticides
11. Consider botanical insecticides & insecticidal soaps
12. Conserve beneficial insects
13. Monitor & control insects with traps
14. Use pest barriers in your garden
15. Solarize soil
16. Consider the potential of natural fertilizers

Using Chemicals on the Landscape - If Necessary

17. Know what to ask a lawn-care company and arborist
18. Understand pesticide toxicity
19. Read the pesticide label
20. Apply pesticides accurately and safely
21. Apply fertilizers accurately and safely

Storing & Disposing of Hazardous Chemicals

22. Store hazardous chemicals safely
23. Dispose of pesticides safely
24. Dispose of auto products safely
25. Dispose of paints and solvents safely
26. Dispose of adhesives, areosols, household cleaners & other hazardous waste safely

Managing Yard, Food & Other Household Waste

27. Reduce household waste
28. Recycle paper, glass, & aluminum
29. Reuse and respond
30. Recycle grass clippings
31. Create a compost pile
32. Use yard waste as mulch
33. Dispose of tree residues

Protecting Your Drinking Water

34. Know when & how to test your water
35. Test your water for coliform bacteria & nitrate 36. Test your water for pesticides - if necessary
37. Know the signs of contaminants in drinking water
38. Select effective water-treatment methods
39. Prevent contamination from septic systems
40. Know the pros & cons of bottled water

Protecting the Indoor Environment

41. Prevent contamination by lead
42. Test your home for radon
43. Reduce radon levels
44. Control dust, dust mites & other allergens
45. Reduce pollution from combustion equipment
46. Prevent contamination by formaldehyde and asbestos
47. Recognize tht it's not always necessary to control indoor insects
48. Select the right household pesticide
49. Control household pests with less toxic alternatives
50. Select household cleaners wisely

Conserving Energy & Water

51. Design new homes for energy effciency
52. Save energy in heating & cooling
53. Insulate & seal your home
54. Choose energy-efficient appliances
55. Save money & energy with compact fluorescent light bulbs
56. Use plants & other landscape tools to conserve energy
57. Conserve water in & around the home

26. Dispose Of Adhesives, Aerosols, Household Cleaners And Other Hazardous Waste Safely
	Adhesives contain solvents and other toxic chemicals. Among glues, the safest choices are white glue, glue sticks, library paste, and yellow glue. Select them whenever possible. If you cannot use up an adhesive yourself, give it to someone who can, or take it to a household hazardous-waste collection site. As a last resort, dry the adhesive. First, find a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, and sources of heat or flames—preferably outside. Wear chemical-resistant gloves, and avoid inhaling fumes.
	If you have a small amount of adhesive, open the container and let it dry. For larger amounts, spread the adhesive in thin layers on cardboard or newspapers. If the adhesive is in a tube, slit the tube for drying. For two-part adhesives, mix them together before letting them dry. When the adhesive has hardened, you can safely place it in the trash.
	Aerosol containers are pressurized products that sometimes contain flammable or poisonous chemicals. If you dispose of these pressurized containers in the trash, they can be punctured and explode. They can also start a fire or injure sanitation workers.
	A can is empty and safe for disposal if you no longer hear air being released from the container. If you cannot empty the aerosol cans by using the contents yourself, find someone who can.
	If that’s not possible, you can empty and depressurize the aerosol container (as long as it’s not a pesticide). Start by working in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, and sources of ignition. Follow safety precautions on the container and avoid inhaling vapors.
	Spray the contents of the container into a cardboard box until you can no longer hear the air being released from the can. When the container is empty and depressurized, put the cardboard box in the trash. Empty containers can be recycled.
	If a household cleaner contains a solvent, do not dump it down the drain or put it in the trash. It contains solvents if the label includes words such as flammable, combustible, caution, warning, danger, or contains petroleum distillates or aromatic hydrocarbons. Find out if someone else can use it up—as long as the cleaner is in its original container and is properly labeled.