16 - Friday, August 21, 1992 -

North Shore News

_ HOME & GARDEN
Many household products
contain hazardous wastes

MANY HOUSEHOLD products
contain. chemicals that when
discarded contribute to the con-
tamination of natural resources
and water supplies.

_ It kas been estimated that in an
average city of 100,000 residents,
3.75 tons of toilet bowl cleaner,
13.75 tons of household cleaners
and 3.44 tons of motor oil are
discharged into city drains each
month. And these figures do not
reflect the. large _ quantities . of
household hazardous waste
“‘disposed’’ of in back yards or in
septic tanks.

This typical disposal is both
unnecessary and hazardous to
public health, yet the practice

continues because often consumers ©

are unaware that many. : useful
household products contain haz-
ardous chemicals.

In order to reduce the amount
of hazardous waste from house-
-hold. products, the District of

; -North Vancouver Fire Services

Division ‘offers ‘the ‘following list

of safe alternative ‘products and

procedures.
OVEN ‘CLEANERS:
Hazard — corrosive, toxic.
Alternatives — wipe. oven while
’ still warm; use baking soda/water

HOT TIPS

North Vancouver
District Fire Department

paste and scrub with steel wool.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS:
Hazard — corrosive, toxic.
Alternatives — mix % cup borax
with one gallon of boiling water:
undiluted white vinegar..
DRAIN CLEANERS:
Hazard — corrosive, toxic.
Alternatives -— plunger,
weekly with boiling water; pour in
Y% cup baking soda.

RUG AND UPHOLSTERY.

“CLEANERS:

Hazard — corrosive, toxic.
Alternatives — clean immediatley
with soda water or baking soda
paste, then vacuum.

FLOOR AND FURNITURE
POLISH:

“Hazard — flammabie; toxic.

Alternatives — one part lemon
juice to two parts linseed oil;
toothpaste to remove water stains.
BLEACH CLEANERS:

Hazard — corrosive, toxic.
Alternatives — for laundry: %%
cup white vinegar, or baking soda,
or borax, per load. Te

MOTH BALLS:

Try : a worm compost

WORM COMPOSTING can be-
indoors and -

‘ done year-round,
- outdoors, - by” apartment dwellers
. and, householders. :

-Use' a container.. ‘made. of wood
cor" ‘plastic ” and filled with damp
bedding : such as shredded news-

add worms, ‘pull aside’ some of

"+ the bedding, bury the food waste

_and caver it up with the bedding.

w

1075 Roosevelt Crescent

Over-a period of two to three
months the worms and micro-
organisms eat the organic material

and bedding, producing rich com-

post.

‘For more information on worm —
composting, consult the Greater.

Vancouver Regional District
brochure ‘‘Guide to Worm Com-
posting.”

39 NATIONAL

<3 POS TURE

POSTUREPEDIC

COLONY |

HOME FURNISHINGS:

North Vancouver

OPEN DAILY Fri. 8-2, Sun. 12-4 (2 blocks behind the Avaton Hota)

Bringing Quaiity
~  -toLife—

North

Shore

Family .
j» YMCA

flush:

Hazard — toxic.

Aliernatives — store clothing with
cedar chips or lavender.
AMMONIA-BASED
CLEANERS:

Hazard — corrosive, toxic, irri-
tant.

Alternatives — undiluted white
vinegar in a spray bottle.
ABRASIVE CLEANERS AND
POWDERS: ;
Hazard — corrosive, toxic, irri-
tant.

Alternatives — rub the area with
% lemon dipped in borax, rinse,
dry; baking soda or borax.

These are but a few alternatives —

that are available for reducing the
disposal of hazardous chemicals
into our environment.

For further information on
these or other safety maiters, con-
tact the District of North Van--
couver Fire Services Division
non-emergency number, 980-
7578, or your local fire depart-

ment.

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