Proper household hazardous waste disposal a year-round concern, not just on Earth Day

It doesn't have to be Earth Day to think about proper waste disposal

Earth Day was April 22, but every day is a good day to remember to properly dispose of hsehold hazardous wastes that can harm us and our environment. Household hazardous wastes are household products that can cause injury or are harmful if not used, stored, or disposed of properly. There are many things in your home that can be dangerous if they are not disposed of in a correct manner.

Examples include: acid, adhesives, anti-freeze, bleach, cleaners, disinfectants, fertilizers, gasoline, herbicides, insect killers, iodine, kerosene, lighter fluid, mercury, motor oil, paint thinner, pesticides, polishes, pool chemicals, rat poison, solvents, turpentine and weed killers.

Household hazardous wastes should be disposed of properly to protect people, animals, pets, our environment, ground water, septic tanks, and refuse workers. The nearest facility for household hazardous waste disposal is: Environmental Enterprises, located at 1249 Essex Ave., Columbus. Fees will be charged. For prices, they can be reached at 614-294-1300 or online at www.eeienv.com.

There are also safer, more eco-friendly cleaning products you can make yourself. For an All-Purpose Cleaner (mix, spray, wipe): use ½ cup white vinegar, juice of one lemon, 2 cups water and ½ teaspooon castile soap. For an All-Purpose Scrub: ⅟₄ cup baking soda, one tablespoon castile soap (Add water for desired consistency, scrub to clean). Window or Glass Cleaner (Mix, spray, wipe): ½· teaspoon liquid soap, 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 cups water. Disinfectant (Mix, spray, wipe): 2 teaspoons of Borax, 4 tablespoons of vinegar, ⅟₄ teaspooon liquid soap and 3 cups hot water.

Licking County Recycling is a government agency responsible for promoting and encouraging recycling to the more than 170,000 residents, businessess and industries in the county. The agency is funded by the CFLP Solid Waste District (Coshocton, Fairfield, Licking and Perry counties) and the Licking County Commissioners using waste disposal and generation fees paid by waste haulers using landfills. Thosse funds are distributed to counties for recycling education and outreach.

For more information about recycling and litter prevention programs in Licking County, call 740-670-5125, or go online at www.LickingCounty.gov/RLC or on Facebook at facebook.com/LCRecycling.

Andrea Krava is director of Licking County Recycling

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Proper household hazardous waste disposal a concern beyond Earth Day