• Toxic materials may look or taste appealing. Every day children and pets become ill or die from eating or drinking toxics in the home.

Read labels:

• Look for signal words: These federally mandated words indicate the degree of immediate hazard posed by the product.

Poison- the product is highly toxic

Danger- indicates that a product is extremely hazardous either because it is poisonous, flammable or corrosive

Warning or caution- indicates products that are somewhat less hazardous.

Ways to reduce exposure:

• Buy appropriately
• Read labels- before purchasing
• Read directions
• Use wisely
• Prepare for Spills
• Wear gloves
• Use salad oil to clean hands
• Read storage directions
• Use up
• Donate to friends, community organizations
• Dispose of properly at HHW days.
• Never dump on lawn

Managing hazardous household products:

• Use up and store the product according to label directions.
• Use household chemical products only in well ventilated areas or outside.
• Do not leave products unattended in the middle of a job.
• Keep Children and pets away when products are in use.
• Keep lids on containers tightly sealed whenever the container does not need to be open.
• Store products out of reach of children, pets and food.
• Store away from sources of heat, flame or sparks.
• Do not smoke while using hazardous household products.
• Do not mix different wastes, keep in original containers.
• If the container gets wet, damaged or corrodes, keep in original containers, put whole thing into a plastic bucket with tight lid, clearly label.
• Paint Tip: Measure all surfaces to be painted. Once you have calculated the total square feet of paint required, divide this total by 400 (number of square feet one gallon of paint will cover).

Where to dispose of PROPERLY:

• Donate usable items to friends, community organizations.
• Take oil to Waste Oil drop off
• Take mercury items – including fluorescent light bulbs - to Townsend Recycling Center
• Take rechargeable batteries, NiCad batteries and car batteries to Townsend Recycling Center
• Take advantage of Regional Household Hazardous Waste collection events
• To find out where to take all your HHP and other recyclables anywhere in the USA:  www.Cleanup.org, call 1-800-cleanup
• Or try http://www.wastecap.org/wastecap/RSD2003/search.asp
• Permanent Locations:

Lexington http://ci.lexington.ma.us/OCD/Health/HazWaste.htm

Veridium in Lowell, 978-453-7772

Clean Harbors in Braintree, 781-849-1800x3466

How do I get rid of Waste Oil?

• Drop-off is the first Saturday of the month 8am - noon at the Highway Dept. on Main Street. On holiday weekends, drop-off will be the following weekend.
• Oil must be in 1-gallon containers when dropping off.

How do I get rid of Household Hazardous Waste?

• Townsend is a member of the North Central Regional Solid Waste Cooperative, which runs periodic regional collection days at various sites.
• The next local collection of Household Hazardous Waste is:

DATE:   Saturday, May 1, 2010, 9am-1pm

PLACE:  Devens DPW, 99 Buena Vista Street

WHO:    Anyone, business, non-residents

FEE:      varies depending on volume & items - see their Flyer

For Townsend Residents, households, fees are

$35 for up to 10 gal. or 10 lbs,

$55 for up to 25 gal. or 25 lbs

Simple Pre-registration just go to www.MassToss.com  or call Tessa at 978-660-6130

• These are PAY as you go events. Residents will be expected to pay about $35 for a 1/2 car load, to $55 for a full car load of HHW. It is suggested that residents "car pool" to save costs, time and crowding at the event. Large, non-hazardous items are also accepted. Reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation: email Recycle@charter.net or call Tessa David at 978-448-8936
• If you miss the local event, try http://www.wastecap.org/wastecap/RSD2003/search.asp to find a company in Massachusetts that will accept your hazardous waste.

 

• Permanent Hazardous Waste Recycling Locations

There are a couple facilities in the area that resident may bring common household hazardous waste items for disposal. These locations are open year-round. Please check the following locations for collection dates, times and fees:

• Lexington, 60 Hartwell Ave. Lexington MA
  Tel:  978-683-1002  978-683-1002
  Website: http://www.lexingtonma.gov/dpw/hhhwfacility.cfm





• Clean Harbors, 1 Hill Ave. Braintree MA
  Tel:  781-849-1800  781-849-1800 Ext. 3466