Some help taking out the trash

No matter how much we reduce, reuse and recycle, sometimes the dumpster is our only choice.

Most garbage can be tossed out normally, but hazardous materials require special treatment, and bulky items like furniture usually are collected by appointment. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW) offers assistance, but hazardous materials still end up in landfills.

“The number one reason people dispose of hazardous waste improperly is because they don’t know they are hazardous.” said Natalie Jimenez, Household Hazardous Waste program manager. “The main thing we want people to do is look at the label.”

According to the department website, “any product labeled toxic, poison, corrosive, flammable, combustible or irritant” is hazardous. There’s also electronic waste, or “e-waste,” which includes everything from computers to hair dryers, and “Universal wastes,” like batteries and fluorescent tubes, which contain corrosive chemicals and mercury. Home medical wastes including “sharps” and unused or expired medication are also considered hazardous.

These wastes cause serious problems when tossed in the trash or poured down drains. They injure sanitation workers, contaminate groundwater and disrupt biological processes used to treat wastewater before it goes to the ocean.

Of course, the hazardous materials themselves also end up in oceans and waterways, contributing to unsafe beaches and polluted ecosystems. Fines for improper disposal can be as high as $10,000.

If you need to dispose of hazardous wastes, use permanent disposal facilities in Los Angeles City or take advantage of the mobile collection events organized by the county. Public Works recommends listing unwanted but working electronic items on the Los Angeles County Materials Exchange, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff offers convenient drop-off locations for sharps and expired medication.

Of course, the best way to ease impacts of hazardous waste is to reduce how much of it you discard. Click here to learn how.

Large household items—furniture, fridges and other appliances—are not accepted by hazardous waste collections and must be disposed as “bulky items” by contacting your local trash collection agency. To find out who that is, use this online tool.

On Saturday, November 5, unincorporated parts of the San Fernando Valley can get rid of bulky items for free—no appointment needed. Sunshine Valley Landfill is hosting a Free Disposal Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents can drop off up to a ton of household refuse free of charge. Accepted items include furniture, appliances and mud debris. The landfill will not accept business waste or hazardous waste.

To take advantage of the opportunity, residents must bring proof of residency (a driver’s license, for instance) or a copy of the flyer that was mailed recently throughout the area. To determine whether your home is in the eligible service area, see page 2 of the flyer. Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Michael Antonovich are sponsoring the event.

As always, before trashing items, see if someone else can use them. Charitable organizations and thrift stores take large items on a donation basis. Your trash could be someone else’s treasure, and you’ll lessen the load on landfills in the process.

Posted 10/25/11