Environmental Stewardship for Farmers - 3

Improving Storage and Handling 
of Hazardous Waste

Is your well protected from hazardous waste?

 To minimize the pollution potential from household and shop wastes, it is important to minimize the amount of wastes produced, especially hazardous wastes. Examine your activities that involve the use of hazardous materials and make sure that you really need all the products you are using. Carefully consider how to use the products safely, recycle, or reuse them when possible. Dispose of used or remaining products in a way that will not pose a risk to surface water or groundwater. A few simple management principles apply in every situation.

• Follow the label.
• Use hazardous products away from your well (at least 100 feet), even when all your spills and drips will be contained.
• Return usable excess product, spills, or drips to the original activity. For example, contain oil or grease drips and use for future lubrication needs.
• Contain any unusable wastes, spills, and drips for appropriate disposal.
• Take uncontaminated recyclables to a recycling facility if one is available.
• Never throw away or bury wastes in or around abandoned wells.
• Do not pour wastes down the drain.

How can we help?

We have prepared this publication to help you focus on potential problems with your drinking water that may be caused by improperly used or discarded hazardous waste. Read the publication and answer the questions in the publication.

Each of the following sections deals with different topics. Next to each topic is a question for you to answer. Your answers will help you to see where you have potential problems.

• If you answer a question either a or b, you have few problems with the use or disposal of hazardous waste.
• If you answer a question either c or d, there may be potential problems with your use or disposal of hazardous waste.
• If you answer a question either c or d, you will want to consider making changes in the way you use or dispose of hazardous waste in order to protect your drinking water.

If you would like further help in assessing the condition of your hazardous waste problem, please contact your nearest Cooperative Extension Service center and talk with your Extension agent.

How safe is your drinking water?

If you drink water from a well or spring, the water comes from the ground. Most groundwater in North Carolina is safe to drink. If pollution gets into groundwater, your well or spring water may not be safe. Many things we all do at our homes and farms can pollute the groundwater.

If groundwater becomes polluted, it is nearly impossible to clean up. Then, the only ways to get safe drinking water are to treat the existing water, drill a new well, or get water from another source. All of these options are expensive and inconvenient.

The North Carolina Farm*A*Syst Program has a series of publications that can help you keep your drinking water safe. These publications will lead you through an evaluation of your farmstead to determine if your water is in danger of becoming or is already polluted with harmful substances from your farmstead activities. If there is a problem or a potential problem, the Farm*A*Syst publications have information about how to solve the problems. The publications also list the North Carolina state agencies that can help you solve your drinking water problem.

The goal of the North Carolina Farm*A*Syst Program is to help you protect the groundwater that North Carolina residents depend on for drinking water.

What is hazardous waste?

Many of the products we use for housework, gardening, farm improvements, or equipment maintenance contain hazardous materials that endanger our health as well as pollute the environment. These materials can contaminate our drinking water if they are not stored carefully and disposed of properly. In addition to polluting our water, careless use and disposal of hazardous household products can cause injuries, poisoning, and air pollution.

Hazardous materials have the following features:

• Ignitable - capable of burning or causing a fire
• Corrosive - capable of eating away materials and destroying living tissue when contact occurs
• Explosive - can cause an explosion or release poisonous fumes when exposed to air, water, or other chemicals
• Toxic - poisonous, either immediately (acutely toxic) or over a long period of time (chronically toxic)
• Radioactive - can damage and destroy cells

How do you know if a product is hazardous?

What are the different types of hazardous household products?

• Automotive products that are hazardous include motor oil, brake and transmission fluid, antifreeze, car batteries, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and car wax with solvent.
• Household cleaners include drain cleaners, oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, spot removers, silver polishes, furniture polishes, liquid cleanser, powdered and window cleaners, bleach, and dyes.
• Paint and solvents that are hazardous include latex, oil-based, auto and model paint, paint stripper, primer, rust remover, turpentine, varnish, wood preservative, mineral spirits, and glues.
• Pesticides, which include herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.

 

General Rules for  Managing Hazardous Products
Rules for Buying Hazardous Products Read labels. Make sure the product will do what you want and that you feel safe using it. Select the least hazardous product. Buy only what you need. Use products with pumps, not aerosols. Select water-based products rather than solvent-based products. Use products in containers made from recycled materials and/or that can be recycled. Rules for Using Hazardous Products Read and follow the directions. Wear protective clothing, if necessary. Make sure your work area is well ventilated. Seal products tightly. Do not smoke, eat, or drink when using these products. Use products carefully. Rules for Storing Hazardous Products Follow the directions for storage on the label. Protect the original label. Store hazardous household chemicals in the original container. Keep containers dry to prevent corrosion. Store similar products together to reduce any danger from reactions if containers should leak or contents should spill. Store products in a well-ventilated area. Store products away from children and pets. Generally high, locked shelves work best. Store products away from any flammable materials or sources. Rules for Disposing of Hazardous Waste Products Do not mix products unless you know what you are doing. Do not flush wastes down your sink or toilet. Never burn, dump, or bury hazardous waste. Do not pour hazardous household waste into ditches, storm drains, or gutters. DO RECYCLE products and containers whenever possible.
Solid Waste Disposal
1. How do you dispose of your solid waste?   As long as solid waste generated from household and farm uses is disposed of in a pollution- and problem-free manner, there is no reason to worry that you will fall under state regulations covering on-farm disposal of solid wastes. Pay attention to all local regulations when disposing of wastes on your site. Open burning of dry combustibles in small amounts is appropriate where permitted by local ordinance. Dry combustibles include untreated and unpainted wood, paper, and cardboard. Minimize adverse health effects from smoke by burning outdoors in well-ventilated areas. Materials or products containing toxic or harmful substances — including empty pesticide bags — should not be burned. While burning may destroy some toxic substances, others will concentrate in the smoke, ash, and sludge which results from the burning. Repeated burning in the same location may cause the toxic substances to accumulate around the burn area. Potentially hazardous substances that are categorized as automotive/ equipment maintenance products are batteries, motor oil, grease and other lubricants, antifreeze, and gasoline and related petroleum products.	1. Circle the answer that best describes how you dispose of your solid waste. a. Amount of solid waste minimized through careful purchase, recycling or reusing, and sharing with others whenever possible. All hazardous products separated out. Disposal or burning more than 400 feet downslope from well or off farmstead. b. Some products recycled or reused, but little done to reduce amount of waste. Most hazardous products separated out. Disposal or burning more than 400 feet downslope from well or off farmstead. c. Little or no recycling or reusing of products. Few hazardous products separated out. Disposal or burning on farmstead 100-400 feet downslope from well. d.Little or no recycling or reusing of products. No hazardous products separated out. Disposal or burning within 100 feet or upslope from well. Disposal in abandoned well or similar hole; OR do not know.
Automotive/Equipment  Maintenance Products
Potentially hazardous substances that are categorized as automotive/equipment maintenance products are batteries, motor oil, grease and other lubricants, antifreeze, and gasoline and related petroleum products.
2. How do you manage your vehicle and equipment maintenance area?   The design and location of the vehicle and equipment maintenance area is important. Even small drips and spills of vehicle fluids can add up to a problem for groundwater. Try to avoid maintenance activities close to your well. Use a location where spills and drips from your vehicles and equipment can be contained. If possible, use drip pans to collect oil. Soak up small drips and spills with sawdust or kitty litter and then dispose of this material in a safe area away from any surface water supply or well, preferably in a sanitary landfill. Recycle containers that held oil or vehicle maintenance products. Take the containers to a recycling center. If the containers cannot be recycled, dispose of them at an approved sanitary landfill or store them on the farmstead away from your well.	2. Circle the answer that best describes how you contain drips and spills from your vehicle and equipment maintenance area. a. Contained on paved area with sawdust or other absorbent material. Sawdust disposed at approved landfill. b. Contained on paved area with sawdust or other absorbent materials and disposed on farmstead at least 200 feet from well. c. Drips and spills uncontained. Maintenance area 100-200 feet from well. d. Drips and spills uncontained. Maintenance area less than 100 feet from well; OR do not know.
3. How do you use and dispose of oil and lubricants around your farmstead? Always store and work with oil, grease, and other lubricants away from your well. Use up grease and other lubricating products, or share them with someone who needs them. Store waste oil in closed, labeled containers (plastic milk jugs work well) until you can take the oil to be recycled. Service stations often accept limited amounts of used oil or can inform you of places that do accept it. Your county Cooperative Extension Service Center may sponsor a used oil collection day for farmers. Call them to find out when the next one will be or locations where used oil can be recycled. Disposing of used oil around your farmstead, such as on driveways or around buildings and fences, can lead to contamination of your family's or a neighbor's drinking water supply. Used motor oil contains organic chemicals and metals. A small amount of oil can contaminate large quantities of groundwater. It is illegal to use oil for road oiling and dust control.	3. Circle the answer that best describes how you use and dispose of oil and lubricants around your farmstead. a. Used oil taken to be recycled by an approved recycler. b. Used oil is reused for lubrication or stored more than 200 feet away from the well. c. Used oil is disposed on the farmstead away from the well. d. Used oil is disposed or stored on the farmstead within 100 feet of the well; OR do not know.
4. Do you recycle your vehicle batteries? Vehicle batteries contain lead and sulfuric acid. The lead can contaminate water and the acid can burn skin. A battery contains approximately 18 pounds of toxic metals and a gallon of corrosive acids. Batteries should be stored in a safe dry place out of direct sunlight, out of reach of children and pets, and away from your well. Vehicle batteries cannot be disposed of in landfills. The only satisfactory way to dispose of old batteries is to recycle them. All stores that sell batteries will take back used batteries. Some service stations and scrap metal dealers will also take used batteries. Many communities have recycling centers that handle old automotive batteries. Contact your county Cooperative Extension Service Center or your regional Division of Solid Waste Management for more information on where to recycle batteries in your community. To find your regional Division of Solid Waste Management: 1 Interchange Building, 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, NC 28801; 704-251-6208 2 505 Waughtown St., Winston-Salem, NC 27107; 910-896-7007 3 3800 Barrett Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27609; 919-571-4700 4 1424 Carolina Avenue, Washington, NC 27889; 919-946-6481 5 919 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115; 704-663-1699 6 Wachovia Building, Suite 714, Fayetteville, NC 28301; 910-486-1541 7 127 Cardinal Drive Extension, Wilmington, NC 28405-3845; 910-395-3900	4. Circle the answer that best describes how you store and dispose of your vehicle batteries. a. Used vehicle batteries are recycled at battery store or recycling center. b. Used vehicle batteries are stored out of reach of children and pets and away from well. c. Used vehicle batteries are stored on farmstead away from well but in reach of children. d. Used batteries are disposed of in farm dump or stored near well; OR do not know.       REMINDER If you circle c or d for any question, you may be causing water pollution.
5. How do you dispose of your antifreeze? Pouring antifreeze on the ground or into a ditch can lead to ingestion by pets, seepage into the groundwater supply, or contamination of surface water sources. Antifreeze contains chemicals which are poisonous to animals and humans. Pets will lap up an antifreeze puddle because it tastes sweet. This is often fatal. Therefore, it is very important to store your antifreeze in a safe place, secured from children and pets. Do not pour your antifreeze into your septic system. The antifreeze will kill the beneficial organisms in your septic system that make it work. Used or excess antifreeze should be recycled. Antifreeze cannot be disposed of in a sanitary landfill. Contact your county Cooperative Extension Service Center for more information on where to recycle antifreeze in your community.	5. Circle the answer that best describes how you store and dispose of antifreeze. a. Used or excess antifreeze is recycled at recycling center. b. Used or excess antifreeze is stored on the farmstead away from well. c. Used or excess antifreeze is disposed on farmstead away from well after placing in absorbent material. d. Used or excess antifreeze is dumped near well or in on-farmstead sewage treatment system.
6. How do you store and use gasoline and other fuels? Petroleum products are among the most hazardous substances found around the farm and home. Store these products downslope and at least 100 feet from your well, if at all possible. Use up old fuels by diluting one part old fuel with five parts new fuel to protect your engine. If disposal of old fuel is necessary, small amounts may be taken to a service station or hazardous waste collection event. Contact your local health department for the proper procedures for disposing of large quantities of fuel. (For more information, see Farm*A*Syst publication #4, Improving Fuel Storage.)	6. Circle the answer that best describes how you store and dispose of your gasoline and other types of fuel. a. Leftover fuels used or taken to service station or hazardous waste collection. No fuels disposed of on your farmstead. b. Not applicable. c. Leftover fuels stored on farmstead away from well. d. Waste fuels spilled, dumped or poured on ground around farmstead; OR do not know.
Paints and Solvents
The best method for managing paint, solvents, and cleaning products is to use them up. To avoid wasting any of these products, buy only the quantity that you need. Store them in well-ventilated areas, away from children and pets.
7. How do you store and dispose of your paints and stains? The best way to use up old paint is to find a painting project or give it to someone who will use it. Store paint in a dry place where it won't freeze. Paint usually is usable if it mixes well when stirred and hasn't been frozen and thawed repeatedly. Oil-based paints have a solvent base which can be harmful to septic systems if the paint is poured down the drain. Any paint that needs to be disposed of should first be dried out in a well-ventilated area away from children, pets, flames, or anything that might spark. For small quantities of paint, remove the lid and let it dry in the can. For larger quantities, find other uses for the paint by contacting service agencies, such as Habitat for Humanity, or your original paint dealer. After the paint has dried, seal it in a plastic bag and take it to the landfill or to a collection center. Paint can be recycled if there is a household hazardous waste collection site or a collection day event in your county.	7. Circle the answer that best describes how you store and dispose of your paints and stains. a. You always use all your paints, share them with someone else, or recycle them at a hazardous waste collection. b. Your paint or stain is evaporated in open air or it is taken to a landfill. c. You dispose of your paints or stains on your property away from your well. d. You dispose of your paints or stains on your property near well.
8. How do you store and dispose of your solvents? Disposing of solvents by dumping them on the ground or in a septic system can allow the solvents to move into the groundwater. Avoid on-farm disposal of solvents whenever possible. Always use solvents away from your well and in a ventilated area. Store them in the original containers and out of the reach of children. Some solvents, such as paint thinner, can be cleaned and reused. Clean dirty solvents by placing in a closed transparent container and storing them until the paint or other material settles to the bottom. After the sludge has settled out, pour the clean, reusable solvent off the top. Let the sludge dry and take it to a permitted landfill or household hazardous waste collection site. If you have any questions about sludge disposal, contact your regional Division of Solid Waste Management.	8. Circe the answer that best describes how you store and dispose of your solvents. a. You clean and reuse your solvents whenever possible. Sludge from your cleaned solvents is taken to a landfill. Solvents that cannot be cleaned are taken to a hazardous waste collection facility. b. Liquid evaporated in open air or well-ventilated area. Paint or sludge taken to a landfill. c. Solvents evaporated in open area and sludge disposed of away from well. d. You dispose of your solvents or sludge on your farmstead near to or upslope of your well.
Farm and Household Pesticides See Farm*A*Syst publication #2, Improving Storage and Handling of Pesticides, for information on storage, handling, and disposal of pesticides.

For More Information:

Related publications available from Cooperative Extension:

• Reducing Hazardous Products in the Home, HE-368-2
• Disposal of Hazardous Household Wastes, HE-368-3

These publications are available at your county Cooperative Extension Service Center. If you order more than one copy of the publication, there will be a small charge. Otherwise, the publications are free. You may also order these publications from Agricultural Publications, Campus Box 7603, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603.

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences . NC State University
School of Agriculture . NC A&T State University

Prepared by

Wilma S. Hammett
Extension Home Furnishing Specialist

Deanna L. Osmond
Water Quality Extension Specialist

Janet Young
Layout and Design Specialist

Adapted for North Carolina from materials produced by the National Farm*A*Syst Program, University of Wisconsin (author Elaine Andrews, Environmental Resources Center, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension).

North Carolina's modification of Farm*A*Syst and Home*A*Syst was coordinated by Deanna L. Osmond and Gregory D. Jennings. Technical editing was provided by Judith A. Gale, and copy editing by Cathy Akroyd. Judieth E. Mock, Sarah D. Kirby, and Rhonda L. Sherman were the technical reviewers at North Carolina State University. Technical review was also provided by Linda M. Culpepper, Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR), Solid Waste Management Division, and Jack Palmer, DEHNR, Division of Land Resources.

This project has been funded with Section 319 grant monies from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality.

Published by

NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

4/97—5000                                                                                                                        AG-566-3
WQWM-167     

This document was updated on 9/13/00 by Janet Young.