Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
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Welcome to the Backyard Conversation! Each month we'll be sharing a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers. To make this successful, I want to hear feedback from you! I'll include a poll at the bottom regarding our topic and share links to some of our partner organizations with similar messages. So, let's get to it! |
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Hazardous Waste
Proper Waste Disposal & Reporting
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The old saying goes "It's time for spring cleaning", but when it comes to hazardous waste, it's always a good time to take inventory of potentially hazardous products that have accumulated throughout your household and decide what you can safely store and what needs to be disposed of. As summer comes to an end, you may find an abundance of old mower gas, paints, stains, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, CFL light bulbs and batteries leftover from projects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of hazardous waste! That’s 100 pounds of household chemicals with labels that say: poison, corrosive, toxic, flammable, or Keep Out of Reach of Children/Pets, in YOUR home, so now's a great time to go through your basement, garage or storage shed and properly dispose of them or put a plan together of where they should go.
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When dealing with potentially hazardous products, the way you dispose of them makes a difference. Hazardous waste disposal is essential for both human and environmental health. Small amounts of hazardous waste being released may not cause an immediate impact, but over time, small releases have the potential to contaminate the environment and have serious health implications.
To start, first look for ways to store excess materials for future use, or perhaps donate what you can’t use to your neighbors, family or friends. If something must be disposed of, check to see if it is considered a hazardous waste. This is easy to do by simply looking for those key words we mentioned earlier (poison, danger, caution, flammable, corrosive, use in a well-ventilated area). These types of products are considered hazardous and should never be thrown in the trash or poured down a drain, as they can end up contaminating our soil and water.
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UPCOMING HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENTS |
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September 12, 2020 - 8 am to 2 pm
Westerville Service Complex
350 Parkmeadow Rd.
Westerville, Ohio
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September 28, 2020 - 8 am to 2 pm
Kingston Center
3226 Kingston Ave.
Grove City, Ohio
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Franklin County has our own Environmental Court? The Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division has jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases pertaining to Water, Land, and Air pollution that occur in our County. Offenses can range from misdemeanor to felony level depending on the severity of the offense. The Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Judge, Stephanie Mingo, has provided additional information on the repercussions of illegal dumping. She states, "As the presiding Environmental Judge, I unreservedly encourage individuals and businesses to properly dispose of all waste, not only because of the criminal aspects of the action, but because it is our duty to protect the environment and our natural resources for our fellow citizens, our future generations, and for wildlife that cannot protect itself. Incidences of illegal dumping of trash, disposal of paint and oil into storm sewers, and prohibited discharge of industrial products into streams are all examples of cases heard in the Environmental Division. Parties who are found guilty may be sentenced to fines, restitution for cleanup efforts, intensive probation, community service hours with the Court’s Community Cleanup Crew, and jail time."
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Did you know you can report littering & illegal dumping yourself through It's A Crime?
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The Environmental Crimes Task Force of Central Ohio is made up of representatives from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Franklin County Public Health, and the City of Columbus Division of Refuse, and is funded by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). The Task Force works together to investigate reports of littering, illegal dumping, and other environmental crimes. Incidents that take place within the City of Columbus can also be reported directly to the Columbus 311 line at (614) 645-3111.
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Next Month
September- Fall Lawncare- Leaf & Mower Management
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Kristin Hilson
Marketing & Public Outreach Coordinator
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212
Connect with us online!
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Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District | (614) 486-9613 | www.franklinswcd.org |
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STAY CONNECTED
to your Soil and Water District!
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