The Dangers of Household Hazardous Waste

The proper disposal of household hazardous waste is an important step for protecting the health of Nebraskans.

When you think of “hazardous waste,” you might think of toxic sludge handled by people in protective suits. But some toxic substances can be found closer to home. Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, solvents and lawn chemicals pose a significant threat to the health of Nebraskans if not disposed of properly. The Nebraska Environmental Trust has provided $1,380,680 for HHW collection in Nebraska over the past 10 years, ensuring that Nebraska’s citizens can enjoy the “good life” for years to come.

The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste. Stored in basements, garages and storage areas, many of these items remain unused until the owner moves. Disposing of these materials in the regular trash can lead to groundwater contamination, endangering the health of communities. In the Omaha metro area, a coalition of municipal agencies is providing area residents with the facilities to dispose of HHW properly. The Regional HHW collection facility offers Omaha residents a simple way to dispose of hazardous chemicals. Users set up an appointment to drop off materials, and a swap shop is available for materials that can be reused.

It’s estimated that the Omaha Metro area generates more than 1,200 tons of household hazardous waste each year. “Toxic substances pose an everyday threat to the health of all Nebraskans,” says Trust Executive Director Mary A Harding. “The Nebraska Environmental Trust is proud to support our grantee partners working to protect Nebraskans from the dangers of household hazardous waste.” A $500,000 grant from the Trust to the City of Omaha was used for the construction of the facility. For more information about the Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, visit www.underthesink.org.

In Kearney, a new program from Keep Nebraska Beautiful provides Nebraska communities with the capability to accept and dispose of household hazardous waste. The Nebraska Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program aims to eventually provide disposal facilities within a 30 mile radius of all Nebraskans. A $77,750 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust will be used for a pilot HHW collection program in Kearney. The knowledge gained from this pilot project will enable Keep Nebraska Beautiful to successfully replicate the collection program across the state. "Keep Nebraska Beautiful is excited to pilot the implementation of the Nebraska Household Hazardous Waste Program in Kearney,” said Jane Polson, Executive Director of Keep Nebraska Beautiful. “The program is designed to provide a continual and sustainable means of disposing of this problematic waste throughout the year. We are grateful to the Nebraska Environmental Trust for their support.” For more information about Keep Nebraska Beautiful, visit www.knb.org.

Agricultural producers also face the challenges of disposing of toxic chemicals. Outdated or unwanted pesticides threaten the precious groundwater resources of our state. The Nebraska Agri-Business Association and its partners provide a safe way to collect and dispose of toxic substances using grants from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Since 1995, yearly collection days for unwanted or outdated pesticides have been held across Nebraska. Producers can bring up to 1,000 pounds of materials to the collection site for disposal. In 2005, over 150,000 pounds of pesticides were collected at 20 Nebraska sites, proving that there is an overwhelming demand for this type of service. "One can only imagine where some of these products might have ended up without this program," said Richard Reiman of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. The Nebraska Environmental Trust has provided $700,000 for this project since 1998. Trust funds are matched with federal funding to continue this valuable service for rural Nebraskans.