Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste

by Amy D. Cabaniss (Editor)

Overview

Household hazardous waste (HHW) is a topic that affects every individual and community given the nearly universal use, storage, and disposal of chemical consumer products. Yet many communities lack the basic information, guidance, and planning support for HHW collection and management so that struggles (e.g., to gain politicians’ and residents’ support, host a collection, build a facility, affect behavior change, and encourage extended producer responsibility) continue on a regular basis. This book is for professionals, students, government officials and others interested in HHW and accommodating the increasing societal demand for this disposal option.

In the evolving field of HHW collection and management, this book:

• provides an unparalleled, comprehensive look at household hazardous waste
• is a must-have for anyone interested in the solid waste management field, whether novice or experienced, because of the valuable overview and specifics it provides for addressing the ubiquitous issue of HHW
• offers perspectives based on many collective years of experts’ accrued insight
• the chapters are written by leading practitioners and visionaries
• is packed with useful information on many aspects of HHW including its definition, mechanisms for collection and creative collection options, tools for behavior change, and product stewardship
• offers an extensive resource list for more information.

Much has changed in 10 years since the first edition appeared, and each chapter in the Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste, Second Edition, is updated to reflect changes and advances in the field of HHW collection and management. This includes updated appendices and the extensive resource list.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641433037
Publisher:	Bernan Press
Publication date:	08/10/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	346
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Amy Cabaniss, Ph.D., M.B.A., has more than 30 years of experience as an environmental educator with applied research in conservation psychology. As adjunct faculty in the School of Business MBA Program at Southern Connecticut State University, Amy teaches Business Ecology and Sustainability and The Research Project. She is the editor of the Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste, past-president of NAHMMA-Northeast Chapter, and former NAHMMA board member.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface
Amy Cabaniss, Victoria Hodge
Chapter 1: What Is Household Hazardous Waste?
Ionie Wallace, Dave Galvin, Philip Dickey
Chapter 2: The History and Current Status of HHW Management
Ryan Kellogg, David Nightingale, Dave Galvin
Chapter 3: The Mechanics of HHW Collection and Management
Shelly Fuller, Dan N. King, Sue Bruning, Mike O’Donnell
Chapter 4: HHW Collection Facilities
David Nightingale, Bill Lewry
Chapter 5: Creative Collection and Management Options
Jim Quinn, Sue Bruning
Chapter 6: Designing Outreach Programs that Change Behavior
Jennifer J. Tabanico, P. Wesley Schultz
Chapter 7: Product Stewardship: Shared Responsibility for Managing HHW
Scott Cassel
Chapter 8: Summary and a Look Ahead
Dan N. King, Jim Hanna
Appendix A: HHW—An Updated Industry Perspective
Steven Bennett
Appendix B: Green Chemistry: California Chemicals Policy and Hazardous Products
Michael P. Wilson
Appendix C: Household Hazardous Waste Resources
Anne Reichman
Index

Preface

Preface
Our daily lives are profoundly influenced by, and reliant upon, chemical product use in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Yet many consumer products, characterized by their hazardous properties (e.g. toxic, corrosive), are considered hazardous household products (HHP) and subsequently, household hazardous waste (HHW). We know that careful selection and use, proper storage and disposal or return, can go a long way in protecting our health, safety and the environment.
The purpose of the book is to inform professionals working for government and businesses, as well as students and interested others about household hazardous waste, in that it affects each and every individual and community given the nearly universal use, storage and disposal of products such as cleaners, pesticides, paint-related products, automotive products and others. The field of HHW management has experienced tremendous growth over the past 35 years as the public has demanded greater protection of health, safety and the environment. Still, many communities lack the basic information, guidance and planning support for HHW collection and management so that struggles (e.g., to gain politicians’ and residents’ support, obtain funding, host a collection, build a facility, affect behavior change, and encourage product stewardship) continue on a regular basis. More and more communities host HHW collections and build permanent facilities to accommodate the amount of material received from residents and the increased demand for this disposal option.
This book has captured information and expert recommendations from people “in the know”—active, busy practitioners and visionaries. It was easy to identify the leaders from NAHMMA (the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association) national conferences and colleagues on the NAHMMA Board of Directors and committees; the hard part was limiting it to these several outstanding individuals, as we are blessed with many in this arena. My inspiration for this book came from the realization that while the annual conference proceedings document much of the how-to and forward thinking, there was not a single repository of the history, present and anticipated future of the field, until the first edition of Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste in 2008. Reflecting changes over the past ten years, this book represents an assemblage of wisdom that we hope will serve you well. It offers perspectives based on many collective years of accrued insight. And while readers will need further study before fully delving into this field (also continued investigation given its dynamic nature), we hope that on these pages you will find a wealth of information that prompts questions and ideas and inspires plans and progress.
This book offers some answers to many questions:
What is household hazardous waste and why do we collect it?
What is the evolution of HHW management and what are the salient issues of concern?
How are HHW collections held and collected materials managed?
What are some best management practices?
What types of factors should be considered when hosting an HHW collection or building a permanent facility?
What are some effective ways to motivate behavior change?
How can a product stewardship approach increase collections, cover costs, and promote less-hazardous consumer products?
What is an example of the industry perspective on HHW?
Where can more resources be found?
Chapter 1 examines the household hazardous waste concept and its range, presenting the case for properly managing HHW to protect public health and the environment. The development and ongoing evolution of HHW collection programs in the United States is presented in chapter 2. Insights and suggestions for managing operationally effective HHW programs are presented in chapter 3, with creative collection options highlighted in chapter 5.
A compelling story is that a safe place to hold a truckload of hazardous waste for a single shipment saves money, no matter how a program chooses to process waste. Chapter 4 does not offer HHW facility layouts (there are many reasons not to provide cookie-cutter designs), however it aids readers in planning and designing a well-working HHW facility.
The usefulness and further promise of community-based social marketing (CBSM) in achieving desired behavior changes, is detailed in chapter 6. The results of applied research on using CBSM (e.g. for motor oil waste collection), offer an insightful guide to those tasked with education and outreach, program management, and beyond.
The shared responsibility for managing HHW at the end of products’ useful lives and along the entire product life cycle is explored in Chapter 7. In addition to the history of the movement and key issues for consideration, the case is well made for why product stewardship represents a worldwide paradigm shift in managing waste among manufacturers, retailers, government agencies, and other key stakeholders.
In “Summary and a Look Ahead,” readers have an opportunity to further consider the past and present, to ponder what the future holds for HHW collection and management. Among other suggestions, the wisdom of the Precautionary Principal is presented in this section.
The appendices provided in the handbook are enlightening and well-worth greater investigation. An industry perspective on HHW is provided, along with a glimpse into California initiatives in the realm of green chemistry. To facilitate further investigation into the topics at hand, a vast, updated listing of resources is provided. Active use of the resources will help to keep you well-informed, up-to-date, and connected.
Some of the relevant topics not covered in this book, that are worthy of reader investigation are:

• Waste exchange programs—how to’s and the pro’s and con’s
• Contractor management—liability, selection of disposal facilities, etc.
• Detailed specifics of running a collection program
• Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) waste management
• Ways in which regulations (e.g., RCRA, DOT, OSHA, TSCA, FIFRA, NPDES, Universal Waste) impact HHW programs

• Training staff for maximum program impact and worker safety
• Funding mechanisms

We hope that reading this book provides you with a good vantage point from which to see the small and big pictures, serving as a guidepost for future HHW-related activities.
It is important to note that this is an evolving field; this Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste provides a useful starting point. The field has grown rapidly in the past ten years, particularly with developments in product stewardship, green chemistry, etc. There is no question that it will continue to grow. Thus, readers will want to continually seek updates on the information provided herein. The resource section will aid in this pursuit.
—Amy Cabaniss,
with Deanna Seaman and Victoria Hodge

Editorial Reviews

A comprehensive look at the state of household management.

American Reference Books Annual

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate 1.6 million tons of household hazardous waste (HHW) every year. This book provides a solid waste management professionals, municipal officials, chemical waste handlers, environmental students, and others with a comprehensive look at the state of HHW management. Readers will learn answers to questions such as what is hazardous household waste and why do we collect it; what are the main concerns; how are the HHW collections held and the material managed; what are some best management practices; how can i motivate behavior change; and how can a product-stewardship approach increase collections, cover costs, and promote better products?

Journal Of Environmental Health

I had a professor who told me I didn’t need to know everything, I just needed to know where to find accurate information when I needed it. The ‘Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste’ has been that for me—a thorough reference guide for many years.”

Kalliope Erin Chute

The Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste is one of the primary go-to references on my shelf for running my operation.

Richard J. Lobinske

Essential resource for anyone involved in supporting, starting, managing, overseeing, or running a household hazardous waste program. The Handbook provides extremely thorough and well-written coverage of the history of HHW programs in the U.S.; the mechanics of running a program; approaches to addressing the many challenges facing these programs; and the future opportunities for waste reduction, toxics reduction, product stewardship, and green chemistry.

Terri Goldberg

The ‘Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste’ is a must-read for everyone, from homeowners to HHW employees. Then keep a copy on your shelf, for answers to difficult questions!

Greg Boe

A comprehensive look at the the state of household management.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)