1_25Every day, without hesitation, we will send to the trash a variety of waste: paper, plastic bags, batteries, glass, parts of electrical appliances … But some types of waste are hazardous and require special disposal. What is this waste?

Batteries must not be disposed of in general trash can, and it is known to many. On garbage landfills, they cause a fire and explode upon incineration. In the air it allocated some of the harmful substances in the world – dioxins. Heavy metals: lead, cadmium and mercury which are contained therein, into the soil and water, poisoning them. Mercury, by microorganisms, transformed into a much more toxic methylmercury compounds that enter the food chain and are returned to us with food. To poison the soil of 20 m2, enough 1 penlight batteries

A serious threat to human life and environment prompted to create a map of where the marked special items of reception of waste batteries and accumulators in different cities of Ukraine:

But the battery – not the only debris that require special disposal.

What can not be disposed of in general trash can:
medicine

Tablets, powders, and other kinds of pharmaceutical preparations have a complex chemical structure and can be highly toxic. Damage from thrown in the trash drugs can be compared with pesticides – a poison that is found in crops, poisoned land and water.

Fluorescent lamps and glass thermometers

Fluorescent lamps contain mercury vapor, which emits ultraviolet light. This radiation is converted into visible light by a phosphor that printed on the inside of the bulb. Therefore, all the energy saving lamps operating on this principle, in larger or smaller amounts contain mercury.

For example, a lamp tube contains 50 mg of mercury, compact lamp – 6 mg vapor lamp with high-pressure mercury – to 600 mg.

Glass thermometers contain about 500 mg of mercury.

If the damage of mercury-containing lamps or thermometer should be possible to collect mercury and faster to take to a special facility for safe disposal.

With regard to waste mercury-containing lamps, then today in Ukraine there is only one plant that takes the lamp from the public.

Computers & Electronics

All types of electronics contain hazardous metals:

Cadmium belongs to the highly dangerous substances. Large doses cause skeletal deformities, fractures. Cadmium accumulates in the internal organs and cause cancer.

Lead causes neurological disorders, kidney and brain.

Mercury refers to the 1st class of danger. It accumulates in the kidneys, causing problems respiratory and nervous system, brain, liver and depresses kidney.

For these reasons, all kinds of electronics require special disposal.

Garden chemicals

Fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other substances, which are used in horticulture, should be disposed of in the trash or poured down the toilet. The best option – to put in a special recycling center.

These chemicals can accumulate in plants, fruits, soil and water. Due to its toxicity, many gardeners refuse to use these drugs in favor of organic and natural remedies.

In the documentary “Particular solutions of the general confusion,” directed by Coline Serreau told about the problem of land devastation from the use of huge amounts of chemicals and alternative solutions that will help to get out of this situation.

Varnish, paint, glue

These materials contain solvents and other toxic chemicals. After drying, they become less dangerous.