The Hidden Dangers in Household Hazardous Waste

March 1, 2025 | By Sonya Betker and Heidi Sanborn

Introduction

Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes everyday items like batteries, paints, cleaning products, and pesticides that, while essential to modern life, pose significant risks to human health and the environment if improperly disposed of. These materials can harm ecosystems, contaminate soil and water, and endanger the safety of those exposed to them. Public awareness is vital to addressing these challenges and essential to protecting environmental health, ensuring public safety, and reducing waste management costs downstream.

Consumers, businesses, and policymakers each have a vital role in reducing the impact of HHW. That's why many consumers choose eco-friendly alternatives and why adopting producer responsibility programs to enact effective legislation will help make our lives and environment safer. The actions taken today can prevent contamination, environmental hazards, and fires— creating safer, healthier communities for the future.

Hidden dangers in household waste

The hidden dangers of household hazardous waste call for increased awareness and action. While individual responsibility is crucial, systemic solutions, including legislative measures, are needed to bring about lasting change. However, HHW solutions require a broader, national approach. For example, Wisconsin has implemented successful recycling initiatives demonstrating how governments, retailers, and solid waste centers can collaborate to make HHW disposal more convenient and impactful.

Understanding household hazardous waste and existing programs

HHW includes toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive substances, posing dangers if mishandled. Batteries leach heavy metals into soil and waterways, while paints and solvents emit harmful fumes and can pollute water supplies. Pesticides harm unintended ecosystems, and cleaning products like bleach and ammonia exacerbate environmental risks when improperly discarded.

Programs such as PaintCare, which is operational in several states, and electronics recycling initiatives illustrate the success of producer-backed efforts. Expanding these programs to a national scale can make safe disposal accessible and effective while reducing landfill contributions.

Proposed solutions

For consumers: Convenience is key. Retailers, local solid waste centers, and community programs already provide accessible options like HHW drop-off events or curbside pickup. Using these services and selecting ecofriendly, biodegradable products are simple steps that reduce HHW risks. Moreover, buying only the necessary quantities minimizes leftover waste.

For businesses: Participating in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs can shift the burden of waste management upstream, incentivizing sustainable product design and safer disposal practices. Businesses that prioritize environmentally conscious operations also align with consumer preferences for sustainability, offering a competitive edge.

For policymakers: Inspired by Wisconsin's regional successes, legislation like EPR models and HHW-specific policies can incentivize manufacturers to innovate safer, eco-friendly products. Policymakers can also strengthen regulations for hazardous material disposal, ensuring a cohesive national framework to manage HHW. Ultimately, reducing HHW production lessens the burden on consumers, businesses, and landfills.

Environmental and health risks

Improper disposal of HHW leads to soil contamination, water pollution, and health risks for humans and wildlife. Batteries leach heavy metals, affecting soil and plant life. Pesticides and paints infiltrate water supplies, creating "dead zones" where aquatic ecosystems collapse. Wildlife suffers from exposure, which disrupts entire food webs. Additionally, landfill fires caused by improperly discarded HHW highlight the urgency for safer disposal practices.

From a health perspective, VOCs in paints and cleaners exacerbate respiratory problems, while corrosive chemicals can cause skin and eye injuries. Vulnerable populations, such as children and pets, face heightened risks, emphasizing the need for systemic changes in HHW management.

Examples of success and opportunities

In Wisconsin, collaborative initiatives between solid waste centers and retailers have increased HHW collection and recycling rates. Community-led drop off programs and EPR policies have proven effective in reducing contamination and engaging residents in sustainable practices. Nationally expanding these models could provide a scalable solution to HHW challenges.

The path forward: Safe disposal and prevention

National efforts can align with core practices to address HHW:

1. Streamline disposal: Promote partnerships with retailers and local governments for convenient drop-off points.

2. Implement EPR policies: Incentivize safer product design and simplify recycling logistics for hazardous items.

3. Educate communities: Foster public awareness of the risks associated with HHW and the benefits of proper disposal.

By producing less HHW through eco-friendly innovations, businesses and policymakers can reduce the downstream burden on consumers and waste facilities. Additionally, adopting sustainable habits at home and in industries contributes to a shared goal: mitigating environmental and public health risks.

Conclusion

Each stakeholder has a role in this process. Consumers can make informed choices, businesses can innovate responsibly, and policymakers can lead with impactful regulations. Together, these efforts will help keep waste management costs down while safeguarding our environment and communities from the hidden dangers of HHW.

Sonya Betker may be reached at 608.509.4872 or sbetker@scsengineers.com. Heidi Sanborn may be reached at 916.217.1109 or Heidi@nsaction.us.