May Lunch & Learn Recap: Household Chemical Disposal

This month we heard from Mike Lessard, Program Director at Home ReSource, and Kelsi Ailling, Environmental Health Specialist at Missoula Valley Water Quality District, who spoke about  Household Chemical Disposal at Home ReSource.   This program is a year-round resource for our community to responsibly dispose of materials that are important to keep out of our environment and watershed.  Here are the highlights: 

• Household Chemical Disposal accepts materials that are –
  • Toxic – poisons that can cause long-term illness
  • Reactive – can explode 
  • Flammable – burns easily 
  • Corrosive – eats through metal 
• Not sure about what is accepted at Household Chemical Disposal? Check out the list here.
• Wondering where these chemicals go once they are dropped off? The County holds a contract with ACT Enviro to haul materials to a facility in Salt Lake City, where they will be incinerated. This is the only option to prevent these chemicals from entering our water and our bodies.
•  To reduce the amount of household chemicals that need to be used in the first place, check out some of these substitutions!
  • Glass Cleaner: ½ vinegar and ½ water 
  • Disinfectants: ½ cup Borax, ½ gallon hot water 
  • Weed Killer: 1 tbsp of clove oil with 2 cups of white vinegar
  • Lamp Oil: cooking oil (can be used)  or essential oils 
• When considering the purchase of a household chemical, be aware that the cost of disposing of the product safely can be two times or more the initial cost. Always try to use it up or substitute it before disposing of it!

Thank you to everyone who attended this Lunch and Learn and brought their experiences and expertise to share with others. We are looking forward to seeing you at the next Lunch and Learn! This event happens every third Wednesday in Home ReSource’s Community Room.