Solid
Waste
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Lesson 4
Household Hazardous Waste
Introduction | Invitation | Exploration | Explanation | Taking Action | Conclusion
In this lesson the you will discover all about household hazardous wastes, including what they are and how to properly dispose of them. Then you will look for hazardous waste in your homes, research how to dispose those items, and try to find substitutions for them.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you should be able identify common hazardous wastes in your homes and understand how to dispose of them properly.
Materials
- poster paper
- computer
- journals
- paper and pencil
Did you know that you live in a dangerous place? It is highly likely that your house contains several items that could either kill you or make you very sick. To begin our investigation of this topic, brainstorm with your partners and list ideas about what is dangerous in your house. Write these ideas on poster paper.
Explore the following links about hazardous waste and answer the questions as you go.
Hazardous products in the home
1. How do you know when a product is hazardous?
2. What are the dangers of household products?
What is household hazardous waste?
3. How do you minimize waste?
4. How should you handle minimized waste?
5. What are some important things to know about hazardous waste?
6. Where would you find toxins in your home?
7. In your groups,
develop a list of ten hazardous items and use the above Web
sites
the search out the best method of disposal. Briefly
describe one method for each
substance. If possible, list a substitute for each of
the the items using the Web
sites to guide you.
Top
Explanation
After completing
your research share and discuss your findings with other
class members. Were you and your group surprised,
scared, frightened, etc... with your findings? How
does your final list compare the with the original
brainstorming chart that your group developed? Post a
summary of your findings and/or opinions about household
hazardous waste on the Eco-Connections
Project Forum.
Taking
Action
Your final tasks in this lesson involves taking action to improve the safety of your home. Take your list of hazardous waste items home and check off any of the items that you find on the list. If they are being stored improperly, please try to store them in as directed. If you have any materials that must be disposed of please do so in a safe and careful manner. For any items that you are unsure about, call the city waste management plant and find out how to properly dispose of them.
In this lesson the you have discovered what hazardous wastes are and how to properly dispose of the materials. Hopefully, you can make your home a safer place.
Evaluating the Solid Waste Module
The authors of the Solid Waste Module would like you to take a few minutes to answer five questions about the Solid Waste Module. Please link to the Solid Waste Assessment. Thank you very much for taking the time to do this.