Hazardless home handbook
This guide provides information on common hazardous ingredients, potential hazards, responsible use and storage, proper waste management and alternatives for most common hazardous household products.
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Create a safer home
Garbage and recycling › Guide to hazardous waste › Create a safer home
You can choose to use less-toxic products in your home and garden.
Select safer alternative products whenever you can. You may be able to avoid a return trip for hazardous waste disposal and protect the health and safety of your family by shopping carefully in the future. Call Metro Recycling Information for free publications and information about alternatives to toxic home and garden products.
Green cleaners
Find out how you can save money, protect your family and the environment by using safe, simple ingredients to clean your home...More
Metro’s natural gardening program
Learn to grow your garden without toxic pesticides. Plus, find out how to provide a healthy habitat for wildlife while discouraging pests...More
Buy only what you need
Check your inventory before buying new products. If you need to buy products that are hazardous, buy only what you will be able to use in a reasonable period of time.
Share leftovers with someone who can use them
One exception: please don't give away old pesticides. They generally lose their effectiveness after two years, and old pesticides often contain chemicals that are now banned (e.g., DDT, Kelthane, chlorpyrifos).
Need assistance?
Related Links
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Nature-friendly home improvement
With a little planning and inspiration, you can create a home that balances beauty and comfort with sustainable resource use and environmental health. Get ideas, practices and resources.
Related Internet links
- NIH household products database
(http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm)
- Washington Toxics Coalition
(http://www.watoxics.org)
- Oregon DEQ
(http://www.deq.state.or.us/)
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new edition
Grow Smart, Grow Safe
Enjoy a beautiful, productive garden without toxic chemicals. Metro’s updated consumer guide ranks 600 pesticides, fertilizers and soil amendments, helping you find products least hazardous to people, pets and the planet. Download