Some products we use every day are "hazardous". If disposed of improperly, these products make their way to the Rouge River and kill surrounding plants and animals.

A product is hazardous if it is:

• Toxic -- poisonous or capable of causing acute illness
• Flammable -- ignitable/burns easily
• Corrosive -- eats through other materials
• Reactive -- can possibly explode or react with other chemicals

Check the label to see if a product is hazardous. A product may also be hazardous if the label has a picture of a skull and cross bones or, if it contains the words WARNING, CAUTION, DANGER, or POISON.

Household hazardous waste tips

• Keep unused portions in their original containers with labels intact and readable.
• Store hazardous materials in a cool, dry place inaccessible to children or pets.
• Reduce your waste and save money by purchasing only materials you need and will use.
• Use products in accordance with the manufacturer's directions and follow all safe handling requirements.
• Let used solvents and paint thinners set for a while in a closed jar. The dirt and paints will settle to the bottom. The top portion can be reused. The amount of actual waste for disposal will be much less.
• Offer surplus portions of products that are usable and safely packaged to others, such as pesticides to nurseries, and paint to theater groups.
• Never pour motor oil, paints, or chemicals down storm drains or sinks. These household hazardous wastes should be recycled or taken to a household hazardous waste drop off site (see reverse side for locations).
• Reduce the amount of hazardous wastes you purchase and use non-toxic alternatives when you can. If a product cannot be used for its original purpose, then the material should be disposed of following the disposal methods listed in this brochure.

Non-Toxic Alternatives
Here are recipes for some Rouge-friendly cleaning concoctions. They work, they cost pennies per gallon, and they won't harm you or the environment.

• For an all purpose cleaner: mix a cup of vinegar in a pail of water.
• To disinfect, use one-half cup borax or washing soda (sodium carbonate) dissolved in a gallon of hot water.
• Wash windows with one part vinegar to four parts water.
• To deodorize carpets, sprinkle with baking soda. Vacuum after 30 minutes.
• To polish furniture, use equal parts mineral oil and lemon oil.
• To clean floors, use 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate not baking soda) in one gallon warm water.

  Back to the Individual Actions Page

Please address all comments and suggestions about the contents of this Web page to rougeweb@co.wayne.mi.us.

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project is funded, in part, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants #XP995743-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -08 and C-264000-01.