Table of Contents
MISSION STATEMENT
Household Hazardous Waste Work Group
Approximately 2.4 million households in Georgia generate more than 5.1 million tons of solid waste each year, most of which is disposed in solid waste landfills. Approximately 0.3 - 0.5 percent of that waste may be hazardous to human health or the environment (EPA, Proceedings of the 4th National Conference on Household Hazardous Waste Management, February 1990). In addition, an unknown quantity of household hazardous waste is improperly disposed of by pouring into storm drains, dumping on the ground, etc. A mission of the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is to instill within the public a pollution prevention ethic which is consistent with the protection of human health and the environment. While hazardous waste generated by households is exempt from environmental regulations in Georgia, the issue of how best to properly manage household hazardous products and reduce waste is of growing concern. Household hazardous wastes of concern are unused or contaminated consumer products such as paints, stains, and varnishes; cleaners; pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides; solvents; used motor oil and other automotive fluids; and, spent household batteries.
The mission of the Household Hazardous Waste Work Group is to provide the Director of P2AD with recommendations on the feasibility of a state-sponsored program which will result in a reduction in household hazardous waste generation in Georgia. If it recommends that a state-sponsored program should be established, the Work Group shall propose a list of programs and activities. Recommendations should include the approximate cost of implementation. Recommendations made by the work group are non-binding. To accomplish its mission, the Work Group should review household hazardous waste reduction and management programs in other states, evaluate the body of literature on the subject, and solicit public opinion and comment.
INTRODUCTION
The Household Hazardous Waste Work Group was created by the Director of the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to recommend guidelines for a state-sponsored Household Hazardous Waste Prevention and Management (HHWPM) program. The work group acted in an advisory capacity to the Director.
The work group's mission was to provide to the Director recommendations on the feasibility of a state-sponsored program which will result in a reduction in household hazardous waste (HHW) generation in the state. The work group was asked to review HHW reduction and management programs in other states and to evaluate the body of literature on the subject. The work group was also to recommend a list of actions and activities that could potentially constitute the development of a state HHWPM program.
To accomplish its mission, the work group was divided into three smaller study groups. The Issues & Priorities group focused on the issues of liability, effect of regulations, and possible funding sources for a state-sponsored HHWPM program. The Residuals Management group discussed management strategy for HHW once it enters the waste stream, while the Source Reduction group focused on education programs for consumers to reduce the amount of household hazardous products (HHP) entering the waste stream. These three study groups met a total of nine times over a three month period. Additionally, the total work group met three times, and the chair and study group chairs met twice as a small group.
The work group was made up of 15 citizens representing a cross section of government, trade associations, and environmental groups. The work group members were Thea Powell, Chair; Rick Foote, Vice-Chair; Don Cargill, Lynn Cobb, Ric Cobb, Rick Cothran, Mark Eisen, Steve Emmons, Olin Ivey, Linda Jones, Kathy Kuzava, Carol Monell, Reuben Sherrill, Susan Varlamoff, and Dee West.
RECOMMENDATIONS
September 22, 1995
An overarching recommendation of the work group is that the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division should be given responsibility to serve as the lead organization in the state for household hazardous waste (HHW) matters. The Division should serve as a state-wide information clearinghouse and coordination center for HHW, although it should not directly operate HHW programs. The Division's programs should clearly emphasize the difference between household hazardous products (HHP) and HHW. Once the consumer no longer has a need for the product, then it becomes a waste. Additionally, the Division should adopt the EPA definition of household hazardous waste, as follows: HHW is A. generated by individuals on the premises of a residence for individuals and composed primarily of materials found in the wastes generated by consumers in their homes, and B. Listed as hazardous waste in 40 CFR, Parts 261.33 (e) or (f), or hazardous by characteristic of ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and/or extraction procedure toxicity.
The HHW Work Group recommends the following, in no particular order, to be components of the HHW program developed by the Division.
Item # 1
The Division should promote legislation that will create a fund to provide financial support to local governments and other groups in the state who wish to sponsor HHWPM programs. The funding sources could be any one or a combination of the following:
The Division should establish written criteria for grant funds in support of HHWPM programs. These criteria should encourage the creation of public/private partnerships, and allow for funds to be used for stand alone education programs or comprehensive education/collection programs.
Item # 2
P2AD should promote legislation that would encourage inclusion of questions regarding proper HHW disposal/recycling practices on various types of licensing renewals in Georgia. For example, a question about used motor oil recycling could be included on drivers' license renewal forms.
Item # 3
The Division should conduct further investigation into other state or federal laws regarding labeling of hazardous household products. The work group agrees that manufacturers are more likely to respond to a "carrot" rather than a "stick" approach. Therefore, P2AD should monitor developments regarding labeling laws, and should work with other states and the EPA Labeling Task Force to encourage appropriate labeling legislation.
These guidelines could be in the form of a document designed as a comprehensive guidebook for distribution to any organization interested in sponsoring HHWPM educational and/or collection programs. The guidebook should recognize that public, private, and non-profit organizations are capable of sponsoring HHWPM programs; however, special consideration should be given to programs that are sponsored or co-sponsored by private entities.
The guidebook should provide, but not be limited to the following:
Staff should be trained as a resource to work with organizations as they use the guidebook to establish HHWPM programs.
P2AD should develop targeted educational materials through a variety of media, including: TV public service announcements; radio spots; newspaper ads; distribution of materials through the local Clean & Beautiful chapters, Cooperative Extension Service, and other applicable networks; fact sheets; press releases; and/or flyers. All materials should emphasize source reduction as the preferred management option for HHW. Educational materials designed for teachers to incorporate into their existing curricula should also be developed.
Consumer-oriented materials should educate buyers on the environmental effects of HHP and the importance of purchasing only the quantity needed. If disposal is required then emphasis is placed on the most environmentally appropriate method. The Division should be involved in educating the manufacturer, consumer, and retailer about life-cycle analysis of products. Additionally, the Division should do more study and have more dialog with target audiences regarding life-cycle analysis and other issues regarding HHW that are heavily affected by manufacturers' attitudes and business pressures, such as labeling, packaging, etc.
The work group agreed that collection is an important part of HHW management, but it is desirable to gather some limited data on collection in Georgia prior to making any decisions regarding funding for a full-scale collection program. Division-approved pilot programs should be located in several different areas of the state, with an emphasis on events that can provide information to the state regarding the feasibility of varying types of collection events (urban vs. rural areas, types of materials collected, etc.).
Item #1
Citizens should be encouraged to follow the waste management hierarchy: Purchase only what is needed, and use up all of the product to avoid the need for recycling or disposal. Collection and disposal of HHW items should be limited to those items that cannot be donated, recycled, recovered, or safely disposed of in a municipal landfill or down the drain. These items include banned pesticides, oil-based paints and paints containing heavy metals, wood preservatives, dioxins, and pool chemicals.
Item #2
P2AD should promote and support private sector efforts by retailers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders for proper recycling or energy recovery of certain items, such as motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, oil filters, latex paint, solvents, paint thinners, strippers, non-alkaline household batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and thermometers. As these private sector efforts will be impacted by EPA's Universal Waste Rule, the Division should be involved in the planning process for state authorization of that Rule.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE WORK GROUP
Membership List
MISSION STATEMENT
Pollution Prevention Assistance Division
Department of Natural Resources
The mission of the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) of the Department of Natural Resources is to achieve voluntary participation by businesses and industries within the state in programs and activities designed to prevent pollution at the source; and to instill within the public a pollution prevention ethic which is consistent with the protection of human health and the environment. To accomplish its mission, P2AD will: