Most households produce waste that may become harmful to the environment if they are not properly disposed. Some of these wastes include: kerosene, petrol, motor oils from vehicles, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, batteries and outdated computer equipment. These wastes have the potential to also cause harm to humans.
Handling of waste
To handle your waste safely at your homes, you can consider doing the following:
- Ensure that where you store your waste is dry and cool.
- Purchase the smallest quantity of products that suit your needs to avoid wastage.
- The manufacturer’s instructions as well as the warning labels should remain on the surfaces of containers to provide guidelines on how the products are used.
- All sources of ignition such as matches should be kept away from the area of storage.
- If possible, ensure that all products remain in their original containers. In case the cans are leaking, replace them using new containers though never use food containers such as soft drink containers.
- Store products uprightly with their lids tightly secured and out of reach by young children. Anything Rubbish problems click here.
Disposal of waste
It is advisable for one to store hazardous waste in a proper way while you await a proper suitable method of disposal. There are various ways how waste can be safely disposed. Some of them include:
Computers: materials used in making computers contain resources that are valuable and can even be re-used. However, they also emit hazardous waste which could pose a serious risk to the environment if not properly disposed. Unwanted computer materials such as laptops, keyboards, disc drives and monitors can be recycled.
Plastic bags: these bags are mostly used while shopping where most supermarkets have bins which are used in storing already used bags and later recycle them.
Unused medicine: unused pharmaceuticals which include both prescribed and non-prescribed drugs should be taken to a pharmacist for proper disposal. It is however advisable to store these unused medicines at places where children cannot reach them.