From Photocopy TC Solid Waste Handout- 1/30/2006

Existing regulatory exemptions that allow housholds and other small quanity generators to dispose of some hazardous wastes in municipal solid waste landfills expired on February 9, 2006. As a result, the following wastes (Universal Wastes) may not be disposed of in regular household trash after February 8, 2006.

• Common Batteries- AA, AAA, C cells, D- Cells, and button batteries (hearing aid batteries).

• Fluorescent Tubes and Bulbs and other mercury -Containing Lamps-

• Flurescent light tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium, and neon bulbs.

• Thermostats- There is mercury inside the glass sealed "tilt switch" of the old style thermostats. (not newer electronic kind).

• Electrical Switches and Relays contain mercury. Mercury switches can be found in some chest freezers, pre-1972 washing machines, sump ppumps, electric space heaters, clothes irons, silent light switches, automobile hood and trunk lights, and ABS brakes.

• Pilot Light Sensors- Mercury-containing switches are found in some gas appliances such as stoves, ovens, clothers dryers, water heaters, furnaces, and space heaters.

• Mercury Gauges- Some gauges, such as barometers, manometers, blood pressure and vacuum gauges contain mercury.

• Mercury Added Novelties- Examples include greeting cards that play music when opened; athletic shoes (made before 1997) with flashing lights in soles; and mercury maze games.

• Mercury Thermometers.

• Electronic Devices such as; televisions and computer monitors, computers, printers,VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios, and microwave ovens. These devices often contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper and chromium.

• Non-Empty aerosol Cans that contain Hazardous Materials- If your aerosol can is labled with words like "toxic" or "Flamable," don't put it in the trash unless it is completely empty.

• Like used motor oil and paint, universal waste is hazardous waste. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous waste in the garbage, you can cause additional hazards to your garbage handler. Eventually, chemicals in illegaly disposed hazardous waste can be released into the environment and contaminate our air, water, and possibly the food we eat.

  AT this time we are not anticipating charging a fee for these items. Please keep these items separate from your regular household wastes so the Attendant at your site does not charge you for them. some facilities in other counties are urging their residents to take them to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day(s) and or the HHW Facility, but we at Solid waste feel, with the residents help in sorting these items rom their trash, we will be able to move the new waste streams more efficiently. These items become very expensive at a HHW Collection Event. The Solid Waste Department has avenues for recycling electronic wastes and the department has been load checking and educating the public for the other items for years. Also, please do not panic and rush to your transfer site to get rid of these items, that will only create a back log that will become labor intensive.

  For online information; ONLINE INFORMATION FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

  Press Release: Trinity County Solid Waste Division , January 30, 2006- (from photocopy hand-out).

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