How Can I reduce the Amount of Hazardous Waste I Use?

• When possible use products that do not say, Toxic, Danger, Flammable, or Corrosive on the container's label.
• If you decide to use products considered hazardous, buy only what you think you will use in a year or two. (When some hazardous chemicals get old they may absorb moisture or break down in some other way so that they are unusable or ineffective. They then become unwanted hazardous wastes.)
• Use the least toxic product that will do the job. For pesticides, the level of toxicity is seen in the label words, Caution (least toxic), Warning, then Danger (most toxic).
• If you buy insect and weed killers buy them in ready to use forms (already dilute). This will keep you from having to store very old concentrated poisons.
• Use insect and weed killers only at recommended strengths: Too strong makes it more likely that these poisons will be washed into our creeks. Too weak means they may not work and a repeat application will be necessary.
• If you can safely (for you and the environment) use up household chemicals, do so.
• Ask your neighbors and friends if they can safely use the chemicals you do not want.