Hazardous household material clean out

Hazardous household material clean out

Seemingly harmless goods like fluorescent light globes, paint and batteries contain toxic chemicals that pose risks to human health and the environment.

That was the message from the free Chemical CleanOut was held last Sunday July 8, with Sydneysiders encouraged by the City of Sydney to dispose of unwanted toxic chemicals in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Held at the old Royal South Sydney Hospital car park, Zetland, 42 categories of chemicals were sorted on the day and disposed of in a way that doesn’t compromise community safety and the environment.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said: “It’s amazing to think seemingly harmless household items like fluorescent light globes and tubes and batteries contain serious heavy metals and known carcinogens that can pose risks to human health and the environment.

“Highly flammable and poisonous materials stored at home in forgotten corners or under the sink could be a serious risk.”

The on site Team Leader Aaron Hajinakitas said upwards of 80 per cent of items brought to the cleanout can be recycled or reused.

“The florescent tubes are processed at our St Mary’s plant in Western Sydney,” Mr Hajinakitas said.

“All of the fuels, the hydrocarbons and paints are turned into alternative fuel. Engine oils and the plastic container both go for reuse. Led acid batteries and all other types of batteries are recycled.

Mr Hajinakitas said that apart from detriment to the environment, disposing of poisonous materials with ordinary garbage poses a safety concern.

“If it’s not disposed of properly you can have fires in the garbage compacters that come round to pick up your general waste. These fires can injure people,” he said.

“Some of the acids we come across here like the hydrofluoric acids leach calcium so if it gets onto somebody it actually destroys people’s bones. A lot of these things are persistent as well if they get into the soils.

“There’s a better way of treating them so you can get beneficial reuses from a lot of the materials.”

Approximately 500 people dropped off toxic waste on the day, including Erschinvile resident Julie Booth. Ms Booth came with her family to dispose of paint thinner and expander foam.

Ms Booth said: “I have come to these clean outs before so that I may ensure that waste is disposed of responsibly, hopefully its recycled or some can be recycled. It’s a safe way to get rid of it.”

At last year’s collection, the deadly poison arsenic and a highly toxic pesticide DDT – banned in Australia for more than 20 years – were among more than 16 tonnes of hazardous household materials handed in.

Residents also dropped off 4,000 tins containing 10,000 litres of paint, one tonne of batteries and 734 propane gas bottles containing 817 kilograms of gas – which can be explosive if handled incorrectly.

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