There are several measures that you can take to help reduce the risk when storing hazardous materials at your residence. We must once again reiterate that first and foremost:

the safest way to store a hazardous material is in the manner which is prescribed by the manufacturer.

Try to limit the amount of a substance you have on-hand. In this age of warehouse clubs and super-stores, many items can be bought in large quantities, maybe larger than what you may need. The more of a hazardous substance that you have on-hand, the more of a hazard it becomes. If the material has expired, or you no longer need it, dispose of it properly.

Is there a potentially toxic concoction brewing in your garage, shed or basement?

Segregate hazardous materials from each other appropriately, and segregate them from other items that could help compound an already dangerous situation. Let's look at a few common substances that are found in the home.

Many swimming pool treatment products contain chlorine, or a chlorine derivative. Chlorine is an oxidizer. In the event of a fire, chlorine could provide a source of oxygen and exacerbate a fire. Therefore it would not be wise to store your pool treatments next to the five gallon can of gasoline.

Gasoline is another substance that is commonly found in the home and that we are very familiar with. It readily gives off vapors, is extremely flammable and is an explosion hazard. Storing gasoline, or any type of flammable liquid, next to that pile of newspapers and cardboard you keep meaning to recycle is not a good idea.

If possible, segregate hazardous materials from your home completely. Garages and basements are often the location where we store many of these types of materials. Try not to store these products in your home if possible. A detached shed away from your home is a good alternative, although one must be careful not to create another hazard by moving the gasoline, chlorine and fertilizer all out to the shed for storage. If you must store these products inside the home, remember to use the proper containers for each substance.

Take much care when storing flammable liquids inside the home as it is highly advisable that the home owner refrain from doing so. There have been many cases of vapors from flammable liquids stored inside a residence finding their way to ignition sources, such as a water heater that uses natural gas or propane, and starting a fire that now has an optimal fuel source. The home owner must consider and identify any possible ignition sources when storing flammable liquids, whether it is inside the home or not.

Another storage precaution that can be taken is the use of a safety cabinet to help segregate and secure hazardous materials such as flammables, combustibles, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. These cabinets generally have many safety features such as sumps to catch spills, self-closing doors or doors that will automatically close in fire conditions, handle locks for security, and insulation to provide fire resistance.

Hazardous materials can react with, damage and breach an improper container. Not all metals and synthetic containers are the same. While a hazardous material might be safely stored in one type of metal or synthetic container, they might not be stored safely in a different type of metal or synthetic container. Also, a material that is stored safely in a metal container might not be store safely in a synthetic one, and vice versa. While glass may be a good container for some materials, it is fragile. Again, not all containers are the same, so if a manufacturer uses glass to house a hazardous material, it is best to keep it in its original container, and treat it with extra care.

Storing hazardous materials in their proper container is probably the most important thing you can do to help effectively limit the hazard, after eliminating the material from your home completely. If you must store the substance in a container other than the original packaging, make sure you use a container that is specifically designed and recommended for use with that substance.

One last important point regarding storage is to make sure all hazardous materials are properly labeled and identifiable. This is especially important if you use a container other than the original. Accidents happen when containers are not labeled, mislabeled, or used for substances other than what they are labeled for. For instance, a commercial fisherman was injured when he went to add what he thought was water to his boat's radiator but instead poured gasoline. Several similar, unmarked containers were sitting together and his mate handed him the wrong container. The resulting explosion knocked the fisherman overboard and burned his upper body. Think what could happen if someone went to add kerosene to a portable heater but the container had old gasoline in it instead of kerosene. The results could be deadly.

Although never meant for public use, two systems of identifying hazardous materials in industry are becoming increasingly more visible to the general public. They are the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Warning Placard System and the National Fire Protection Association's 704 Diamond. The DOT HazMat placards were instituted as a way of helping to identify classes of materials during shipment, specifically from a distance in an emergency situation. The NFPA diamond is sometimes used where hazardous materials are stored and used, and is intended to signify their presence, and give a general indication to the degree of severity for health, flammability and reactivity.

For the general public, these symbols are of little value other than alerting those familiar with them that the substance or container which they are marking is a hazardous material and should be treated with appropriate care.

In summary, here are the key points to storing hazardous materials at your home:

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the storage of a hazardous material.

• Limit the amount of material you have on-hand, and properly dispose of it when you no longer need it.

• Segregate materials appropriately and to the best of your ability, including storing them away from the home.

• Store materials in the proper containers and make sure they are appropriately labeled.

Disposel

It is not uncommon for the average home owner to have the need to dispose of common household hazardous materials (also known as household hazardous wastes) such as paint, batteries, oil and gasoline, just to name a few. When materials such as these are no longer needed, or have expired because of use or time, it is a wise decision to remove them from the home.

For the most part, the general public has become educated as to the risks associated with improper disposal of hazardous materials. The days of dumping the old motor oil from the oil change down the sewer drain have for the most part come to an end, thanks largely in part to environmental awareness education. However, the result from this increased public awareness, along with more stringent laws and enforcement, has commonly led to the public accumulating these unwanted materials in their homes instead of disposing with them. Sometimes they accumulate to very dangerous levels.

The common belief is that these materials are to difficult to dispose of properly, and/or too costly to do so. This is a misconception. While it may not be as easy as placing them out with the regular garbage collection, or as cheap, it is not as difficult or costly as one might think. We must once again reiterate that:

the safest way to Dispose of a hazardous material is in the manner which is prescribed by the manufacturer.

The second manner for disposing of your unwanted materials is to contact your solid waste removal provider, whether it be a governmental service, or a private company. If they can not help, try your local environmental protection department for guidance.

Ask them about how to properly dispose of your specific materials. You may not be able to dispose of all your materials in the same manner. For instance, motor oil might have to be taken to a gas station, road flares given to the fire department, and the old air conditioner taken to the public works department. It all depends upon the material, and the local regulations in your area. Disposal fees might also be associated with some items.

Personnel will generally remove your items from the vehicle while you wait safely inside. Know what materials may be disposed of at a collection site and how to do so properly.

Many municipalities, county and state governments sponsor hazardous waste collection days where the general public may bring certain items for drop-off and disposal. Not all materials may be eligible for disposal at these events, and there are rules and laws regarding the transporting of these materials to the drop-off site. Please be sure that you understand what materials are eligible for disposal and how to properly transport and drop-off these items before attempting to do so.

Contact your town government or state environmental protection agency and inquire about household hazardous waste collection programs. If there are no collection programs in your area, or you are having difficulty finding someone to accept your materials, try contacting a private environmental services company as they sometimes will privately contract with you to remove your unwanted materials, but remember, some fees might apply.

Learn More

General

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Household Hazardous Waste page

Storage

National Fire Protection Association Safety Fact Sheets on Gasoline and Propane Safety

Disposal

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Household Hazardous Waste page
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Household Hazardous Waste Collection Schedule