It’s a good time to take a look around your home and make sure household chemicals and hazardous materials are being stored and disposed of properly.
Not all household products are hazardous, but some require special handling and disposal to protect people, pets, and the environment. Examples include antifreeze, motor oil, pesticides, cleaning products, batteries, and mercury-containing items.
Hazardous materials should never be poured down the drain, flushed down the toilet, or dumped into a storm drain. Improper disposal can harm public health, our environment, and our waterways, where they can impact aquatic life and wildlife.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, mercury is a highly toxic hazardous material that can cause serious health problems and harm the environment. It can be found in some household items, including thermometers, thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, ultraviolet (UV) lightbulbs from HVAC systems, paints, dental amalgam for tooth fillings, and more.
Mercury is a bioaccumulative pollutant, meaning it can build up in living organisms over time. Mercury is a bioaccumulative pollutant, which means that it can build up in living organisms over time. Never pour mercury or mercury-containing materials down the drain or place them in the regular trash. Proper disposal is essential to protecting public health and the environment.
Brown County residents can safely dispose of many household hazardous materials at the Brown County Hazardous Material Recovery Facility.
Learn more about hazardous waste recycling here >>
Not sure what to do with an item? Check out the Waste Wizard Tool from Tri-County Recycling to learn how to dispose of it properly >>
When in doubt, don’t pour it out! Help protect public health, the environment, and our waterways!