Reuse of Household Hazardous Waste - Reuse Alliance

Reuse of Household
Hazardous Waste
Jim Quinn
Hazardous Waste Program Manager, Metro
ReuseConex
October 2012

Metro’s Program
• Metro is the regional government
here in the greater Portland area
• Metro’s HHW program serves about
60,000 customers annually
• We handle more than 4 million
pounds of waste annually
• All latex paint collected goes to our
latex recycling program

HHW Reuse Programs
• Also known as “Drop & Swap”,
Materials Exchange, etc.
• Are a “win/win/win”
‣ good for the program: reduced
disposal costs
‣good for the community: useful
products at no cost
‣good for the environment: reduced
resource use, reduced disposal impacts

Recycling/reuse of HHW
• About 40% of what we receive is
latex paint, recycled into
MetroPaint
• Of the remaining waste about 6%
is diverted to our reuse program
(~150,000 pounds annually)
• Overall about 80% of the HHW we
receive is recovered in some wayreuse,
recycle, or energy

HHW for reuse can include:
– paint (oil‐based) and other building
materials
– automotive products
– cleaning products
– printing ink & supplies
– laboratory and photography chemicals
– pool chemicals
– propane cylinders
– fertilizers

What about liability???
• The primary concern is product liability ‐
product may be contaminated or mislabeled,
cause harm
• Secondary concern‐ does not perform as it
should
• There is liability for not having a reuse
program‐ i.e. disposal liability
• What about a signed disclaimer or waiver?
‣ Does not eliminate liability
‣ Informs
‣ Waives implied warranty
‣ Provides some defense

Guidelines to minimize liability
• Limit what is given out
‣What types of products
‣Condition of container
‣Verification of contents
• Limit who it is given to
‣All comers vs. limited recipients
‣Is the product appropriate for the
recipient?

Container Guidelines
• All items must be in their original
containers
• All original labels intact and legible
• Container must be in sound condition,
with closures properly functioning
• Sealed never‐opened containers are
best, opened containers with half or
more of the original contents
remaining are OK

Container Guidelines (cont.)
• In some cases we verify the contents
‣visual examination
‣tests such as pH and water solubility
‣results must match what is expected for
the product
• When original manufacturer's seal still
intact, no verification needed
• Aerosols & similar containers need
not be tested

Limit Types of Products
• No products intended for use on the
human body, e.g. shampoos‐ unless the
container is sealed with original
manufacturer's seal
• No product that is intended to be eaten
or taken internally
• No product that is not currently available
to consumers
• No product that is deemed too hazardous
for reuse‐ depending on experience and
skill of the recipient

Pesticides
Only those that are allowed on organic crops :
• diatomaceous
earth
• silica gel
• boric acid
• insecticidal soaps
• fish oil spray
• bacillus
thurengiensis
• linalool
• methoprene
• neem
• oil spray /dormant oil/
horticultural oils
• sulfur
• lime‐sulfur
• copper sprays
• tanglefoot/sharpshooter
• chrome yellow paint
• anything with Safer or
Ringer brand name
• phermones

Organizations
Habitat for Humanity
Gleaners
Golden Harvesters
Rebuilding Together
Schools, churches, camps
Garden clubs
Homeless shelters
Animal shelters
Artist’s groups, theaters
etc., etc.

A Habitat for Humanity
house every three years
Habitat for Humanity sells materials
donated by the Reuse Program in
their Restore. Annual sales total
$26,000, or one third the cost of a
Habitat house.

Repackaging for Reuse
• Fertilizers
‣Dry solid
‣Water soluble solid
‣Water soluble, acid‐loving
‣Liquid
• No weed & feed!

Jim Quinn
Hazardous Waste Program Manager
Metro
503‐797
797‐1662
jim.quinn@oregonmetro.gov
www.oregonmetro.gov
Metro | Making a great place