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Rechargeable Battery and Cell Phone Program
The Municipal
Office is now a depot for collection of rechargeable batteries and cell
phones under the Call2Recycle program. This program is operated
by a non-profit as a public service and attempts to collect hazardous
materials and divert them from our landfill. There is no cost to
the user or the municipality. Please do your part to use this
service to keep these materials out of our landfill and ultimately our
groundwater. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 -
4:00. For more information please visit the Call2Recycle website
at http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/community/comm_faq.html.
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"So this is the year
you're
finally going to get around to cleaning out your cupboards.
Congratulations!
It's about time you got rid of all those rusty cans and dusty bottles,
the old
pickle jars with their dribs and drabs of varnish, insecticide, and
wood
preservative, the pail full of motor oil, and all the leftover liquids,
powders
and pastes that the contractors didn't take with them after the
renovations.
But wait a minute! You're not
planning to pour that stuff down the drain, are
you? Or out back ?
Across the
road? Do you realize
what you're doing? You're polluting the
environment with
household hazardous wastes." Environment
Canada Website
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The Municipality will
hold a Household
Hazardous Collection Event at the old rink site in Stonecliffe in
September or October (date to be confirmed with contractor).
Please save those items that are listed below to dispose of at this
event. (Specific date and time will be
advertised once confirmed.)
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DO I
REALLY NEED TO USE THIS?
There are some questions you
should ask yourself when
you're shopping:
- Do I really need to use
this?
- The "new, improved,
miracle formula!" may be more hype than help. Sometimes, the old-
fashioned methods are simpler and safer. Instead of using hazardous
chemicals, you could practice organic gardening techniques (do some
research on companion planting, natural pest prevention and composting
or use alternative cleaning products).
- How much do I really
need? Try to buy just enough to finish the job. If you must buy a
large quantity, share what's left with a friend or a community group.
- How will I dispose of this
when I am finished?
- Is using the product worth
all the hassle involved in getting rid of it?
- Find out where the hazardous
waste disposal facility is in your community and watch for special
collection days. In the meantime store your collection of hazardous
wastes out of the reach of children and pets.
- Hazardous household wastes
don't have to be a long-term disposal problem. The next time you have
to buy a potentially hazardous product, look for the type that has been
recycled. Re-refined motor oil is a good example.
YOU
CAN'T TREAT HAZARDOUS WASTES THE SAME WAY YOU TREAT OTHER GARBAGE.
- Buried
wastes can filter down through the soil and contaminate groundwater.
- Wastes
can clog storm sewers and over-burden septic systems.
- Plumbing
systems can be damaged by corrosive chemicals.
- Burning
hazardous wastes may simply distribute them over a larger area.
- Pouring
hazardous liquids on the ground can poison soil, plants and water.
Products labelled as
corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic should be
disposed of only at a hazardous waste facility. Even if they don't have
warning
labels, it's safe to assume that products like paint, motor oil and old
propane
tanks are potentially hazardous too.
Most of these wastes are
produced by industry. Hazardous wastes are an
unfortunate by-product of the manufacture of metals and plastics,
computer
equipment, dyes and paints, among other commodities.
Government regulations control
the disposal of industrial hazardous wastes,
but you can do your part to protect the environment by taking special
care when
you buy, use or dispose of potentially hazardous substances.
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Some examples of
hazardous materials you may find around your home:
- antifreeze
- lighter fluid
- batteries
- lye
- brake fluid
- mothballs
- chemical strippers
- nail polish remover
- chlorine bleach
- old propane tanks
- contact cement
- paints pesticides
- drain cleaners
- pool chemicals
- fire extinguishers
- prescription drugs
- flea collars and sprays
- solvents
- herbicides insect repellent
- spot removers
- insecticides
- stains and finishes
- kerosene
- toilet cleaners
- lawn chemicals
- used motor oil
- oven cleaners
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HOUSEHOLD
HAZARDOUS WASTES - WHAT ARE THEY EXACTLY?
To put it simply, they are the residues of
potentially harmful substances
you use in your home. Hazardous wastes usually have one or more of the
following characteristics; they are:
- Corrosive:
they eat or wear away at many materials
- Flammable:
they easily ignite
- Reactive:
they can cause an explosion or produce deadly vapours
- Toxic:
they are poisonous to humans and animals
Household Hazardous
Waste
North
Americans generate over
1.76 million tons (over 3.5
billion pounds) of hazardous household waste (HHW) each year. Although HHW makes up a very small percentage
of the waste stream, it causes a large part of the environmental damage
that
occurs in waste handling and disposal.
HHW’s are sometimes disposed of
improperly by individuals
pouring wastes down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or
putting
them out with the trash. The best
strategy for us is to avoid hazardous materials if possible. If you
can’t avoid
using some hazardous products, safe disposal is very important – these
materials should NEVER be put in the garbage or down the drain.
Bring
hazardous waste from your home to the Household Hazardous Waste
Collection
Day.
For additional
information contact the Township Office 613-586-2526. |
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MHSW Program Plan
– Phase I Materials
- Paints and stains and
their containers;
- Solvent such as thinners
for paint, lacquer and contact cement, paint strippers and degreasers,
and their containers;
- Used oil filters;
- Oil containers of 30
litres or less for a wide range of oil products such as engine and
marine oils, and hydraulic, power steering and transmission fluids;
- Single use, dry cell
batteries such as alkaline-manganese, zinc-carbon, lithium and button
cell batteries (non-rechargeable )
- Automotive antifreeze
(engine coolant and related containers;
- Pressurized containers
such as propane tanks and cylinders;
- Fertilizers, for example,
plant food or plant nutrients containing nitrogen, phosphorous,
potassium (N-P-K); and
- Fungicides, herbicides,
insecticides and pesticides and their containers.
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