Hidden dangers in your home

by Heather Alexander, Solid Waste Specialist

They are there, lurking. Open the cupboard under your bathroom and kitchen sinks. Check the shelves in your laundry room. Look in the garage. Many of the common chemicals we use in our homes are dangerous.  When used as directed, they may be generally safe. However, keep in mind that chemicals can degrade, or change and breakdown over time, becoming more dangerous. When not used as directed, these chemicals can pose significant health risks.

The skull and crossbones is used to indicate the presence of a poisonous chemical. If you see this symbol on a household product, be careful and pay attention to the warning listed on the label.

Many household chemicals should NOT be mixed together. Here are some common products that should NOT be combined:

·         Bleach with Toilet Bowl cleaners:  This mixture can create toxic and deadly fumes.

·         Bleach with Vinegar: Vinegar is a type of acid. When you mix the two, toxic chlorine vapor is produced. Never mix bleach with an acid!

·         Bleach with Ammonia: Toxic, potentially lethal fumes are produced. The main danger comes from chloramine vapors.

·         Different brands of one type of cleaning product: Just because it is used for the same task does not mean the ingredients are the same. Mixing different cleaners together may cause a violent reaction, producing toxins. The mix may also render the ingredients ineffective.

·         Strong alkaline products with strong acidic products: Never mix alkaline (bases) with acids. Acids and alkalis can react violently, presenting a splash hazard. Both acids and alkalis are caustic and may cause chemical burns.

Read the labels of products in your home and follow the instructions for proper use. Many container labels will state the most common dangers from interaction with other products.

For a list of some of the most dangerous household chemicals and their risks, visit www.tricountyrecycle.com, or check out our Facebook page for ongoing tips!

Save a lot with a little planning

by Heather Alexander, Solid Waste Specialist

It’s that time of year again. . . time for the early morning rush to get the kids off to school, dance lessons and soccer practice, weekend football games, time to get together for dinner with friends who have been gone all summer, time for evening meetings.

Now is the time to bring some sanity to your busy life. Gain some peace, save money, and conserve resources with these simple tips:

1)      Plan meals ahead of time, particularly lunches and dinners. By planning your menu ahead of time, you’re more likely to purchase only what you need when you grocery shop. Can you use ingredients to make two separate meals? How about tacos one night, and tex-mex stew another night? Shop farmers markets for great local, fresh produce.

2)      Enjoy the beautiful fall weather by walking or biking to work and school. Talk to other parents, and coordinate a “walking pool” for the kids in your neighborhood. You’ll save gas, and get invigorating exercise to energize your body and mind for the day ahead!

3)      Say no to idling. We all do it…. Leave the car running while we wait for the kids to get out of school, wait for our partner to finish their shopping…. Help create better air quality in the Gorge by turning your car off.

4)      Consolidate trips. How many times do you come and go each day from your home or workplace? Conserve gas and improve air quality by consolidating your trips. Get groceries, pick up the dry cleaning, then pick up the kids, rather than making three separate trips.

Want more ideas on how you can conserve resources and reduce waste? Check out our website at www.tricountyrecycle.com, or find us on Facebook. Let’s get ecosmart together!

Recycling by the numbers?

The other day, a sweet lady approached me and asked, “Can I recycle #5 plastic containers?” Honestly, I don't know a #5 from a #1. Anymore, recycling isn't about the numbers. It's about the quality of the plastic.

I remember the days when we determined what went into our recycling bin based on the number on the container. Boy, that got confusing.  The plastics industry has changed a lot over the years. More and more types of plastics are manufactured with different additives. A lot of recyclability today has to do with how the plastic was formed. Containers that are formed through a blow process, much like blown glass, tend to be sturdier in nature and more desirable, such as tubs, bottles and jars. Plastics that are formed through injection molding, such as the clear plastic containers that strawberries come in, have significantly lower value and strength. The injection process compromises the integrity of the plastic, which makes it a less valuable product in terms of the recyclables market.

If you are really passionate about recycling items that cannot be taken curbside, there are a few Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in the Portland area that will accept presorted materials such as clear plastic “clamshell” food containers and even Styrofoam. Specifically, call Far West Fibers. You can find them on the web at www. Farwestfibers.com

If you are interested in finding out what all of those numbers mean on your plastic containers, check out this interesting resource from National Geographic.

Make your 4th of July red, white, blue and GREEN

I look forward to 4^th of July every year. We get together with friends and family. Have great food. Oh, and let’s not forget the homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh blue berries! Oh, my goodness! It’s like Christmas, without all the stress!

As you are planning your 4^th of July, and other summer celebrations, put a little thought into adding some GREEN to your fun by reducing your waste. Here are a few tips to make your celebrations fun, waste-less, and satisfying!

1)      Think durable and reusable. Instead of going out and buying paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic utensils, and those cheap plastic table cloths that rip after one use, remake your celebration with durable and reusable goods! If you don’t want to use your good dishes, you can find some inexpensive plastic or melamine dishware and cups at many stores, with refreshing summer themes and colors. Or, better yet, check at second hand stores and garage sales for plates, utensils and cups. Pack your metal utensils along for the outing. I simply put all of my reusable goods in a plastic tote or wicker laundry basket, and we’re off. Top it off with a colorful table cloth.

2)      Rather than buying individual condiment packages, provide condiments such as mustard, ketchup, relish, and sugar in containers.

3)      If you are decorating for your gathering, use decorations that can be reused in future years. Or, consider borrowing decorations from a friend. Consider using alternatives to balloons, such as fresh-cut-flowers.

4)      Bring a bag for your own recycling. If you're spending the day somewhere that you know won't provide recycling opportunities, pack a bag for those couple of aluminum cans you and your party will empty while there.

5)      Look around for a recycling container at the event site or park. If there aren’t any, take your recyclables back home. Write a letter to event coordinators encouraging them to think about recycling next time.

6)      Offer to set out boxes or bags for recycling if you are at a friend or family member’s house, and they have forgotten to provide a container for recycling. Label the containers so you don’t end up with garbage in them.

7)      Got leftovers? Think about all of the unemployed and less fortunate individuals in our state. Oregon ranks 3^rd in childhood hunger rates in the nation. So, rather than throw out your extra food, find out if one of the Community Meal sites or Food banks in your community can use the extra. Usually they can. Chances are you even have a neighbor who could really use the extra food right now.

Green Cleaners

I decided to clean out the bathroom cupboards recently. By the time I was done, I was surrounded by bottles. My husband was amused and I was irritated at the proliferation of cleaners that I found under the sink alone.

At $3.00 to $5.00 per bottle, I probably had close to $30 worth of cleaners in my bathroom alone. The one thing most of these cleaners have in common is the caustic smell that induces burning in my lungs and brings tears to my eyes. Many commercial cleaning products use ingredients that can be harmful to people and the environment.

I have found that I can save money, protect my family and the environment, and still achieve a clean home by using safe, simple ingredients to make my own non-toxic green cleaners. Here are just a couple of simple solutions for your household:

Drain Cleaner: Did you know that frequent use of caustic commercial drain cleaners can eat away your pipes? Instead, pour ½ Cup baking soda down the drain. Add ½ Cup Vinegar. Let it “fizz” for a few minutes, and then pour a tea kettle full of boiling water down the drain.

For stubborn clogs, use a plunger or mechanical snake. My plumber even recommends the baking soda and vinegar method!

All purpose cleaner: In a spray bottle, mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of Sodium Carbonate Washing Soda (found in the laundry section), 2 Cups of hot water, and ¼ Cup liquid vegetable soap, also known as castile soap (such as Dr. Bonner’s, found in most health food sections).

For more Green Cleaner recipes, visit www.tricountyrecycle.com and check out our recommendations for Creating a Healthy Home.