Dallas, Texas
Toxic Waste Text

Who wants toxic waste?
We do.
____________________________________________________________

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is soon!

Watch and listen for details from your local newspapers, radio stations and television news.

Chemicals are a part of our life. When used and disposed of properly, they can be useful tools. But improper use, storage, or disposal of hazardous products can endanger our families and the environment. Consider the following tips when using hazardous products at home:

    Use non-toxic alternatives. Many safe alternatives to chemical products are readily available.

    Before purchasing a product, make sure it will do the job you need.

    Do not buy more than you need.

    Read the label and follow directions about how to use the product and dispose of the container.

    Use up all of the product, leaving only the empty container to throw away.

    Donate or give away unwanted products to community organizations or your neighbors.

    Find and use local recycling centers or automobile service centers for used oil, batteries and other products.

    Use organic lawn and garden alternatives that do not contain synthetic chemical poisons.

UPDATED INFORMATION:

Safe, free disposal of household hazardous waste

Dallas residents have two safe, easy options for disposing of unwanted household hazardous waste. Disposal is free. Residents must provide a photo identification and recent utility bill stub to prove residency in Dallas.

  • A permanent drop-off collection facility, located near downtown, will accept your hazardous waste. Call the Home Chemical Collection Center at (214) 630-9160 to make an appointment.
  • Dallas residents can take wastes to any household hazardous waste collection event held in Dallas County. Call (214) 904-3017 to find out when the next collection event will be held near you.

How do I know if I have hazardous waste in my home?

We all have dangerous items in our homes. Look for the following signal words on product labels: caution, warning, danger, poison, flammable, volatile, caustic or corrosive. Go through your home with this checklist to identify hazardous chemicals and items. Use and store these items carefully. Identify and save unwanted items for the next household hazardous waste collection day in your area. If you are unsure about an item, call (214) 904-3017 for help.

Garden & other items:

  • Chemical fertilizer
  • Fungicides
  • Herbicides
  • Insecticides
  • Rat poison
  • Artist's paints/mediums
  • Dry cleaning solvents
  • Moth balls
  • Batteries
  • Photographic chemicals
  • Swimming pool chemicals

Garage & Workshop:

  • Antifreeze
  • Gasoline
  • Auto batteries
  • Brake fluid
  • Auto body repair products
  • Automatic transmission fluid
  • Other oils/cleaners
  • Oil based paint
  • Paint thinner
  • Paint stripper
  • Varnish

Kitchen & Bathroom

  • Aerosols
  • Bug sprays
  • Floor care products
  • Metal polish
  • Furniture polish
  • Oven cleaners
  • Drain cleaners
  • Bathroom cleaners
  • Tile cleaners
  • Disinfectants
  • Toilet bowl cleaners
  • Nail polish remover

Don't bring to the collection:

  • Empty containers of any kind
  • Asbestos
  • Radioactive materials
  • Explosive materials
  • Pathological/medical wastes
  • Compressed gasses (Propane tanks)
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
  • Controlled substances (drugs)
  • Ammunition
  • Wastes from regulated generators and businesses
  • Unknowns that are suspected to be one of the above

Careless waste disposal creates new, costly problems

The careless disposal of hazardous waste spreads the exposure hazard from your home to other parts of the environment–creating dangers for all of us.

Problems occur when hazardous wastes are disposed of with ordinary trash, dumped on the ground or find their way into storm drains. During a rainfall, the rainwater picks up chemicals, oils, fertilizers, and other hazardous waste from exposed trash, roads and land. This contaminates the rainwater.

Dirty rainwater goes straight to the creeks and rivers

Unlike sewage that goes to a wastewater treatment plant, rainwater does not get treated. Instead, the rain washes hazardous waste and trash into the storm drains in the street. Storm drains then carry the rain runoff into nearby creeks and lakes–which supply the water we treat for drinking!

When it rains, wastes can also be absorbed into the land which contaminates plant life and ground water.

Dumping waste in the toilet or sink is a bad idea, too. This makes sewage more difficult to treat and costs more money.

Here's what can happen if we don't clean up our act

  • Increases in hazardous wastes in the water supply will increase the cost of treating water for drinking. Also, it will cost more for waste cleanup and maintenance of rivers, streams and storm drains.
  • The city could have to pay fines for not meeting federal standards.
  • Municipal landfills are not designed to handle hazardous wastes. Discarded chemicals can leach through the landfill liner and pollute the ground water.
  • Hazardous waste could pollute our creeks, rivers and lakes. It threatens fish, wildlife and people. Fishing and water recreation are lost. Polluted water breeds health hazards.
  • Water pollution lowers property values, harms economic growth and destroys neighborhoods. No one wants to live or do business near polluted water.

This publication was produced by the City of Dallas Public Works and Transportation Department and the Office of the County Fire Marshal, Dallas County. For more information, call (214) 904-3017.

City of Dallas Public Works & Transportation Dept.
Storm Water Quality Division
2721 Municipal Street, Room 12
Dallas, Texas 75215

Publication No. 93/94-61
9/94
Updated 1/99

 


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