Adopt practices that reduce waste toxicity

• Choose items containing non-hazardous or less hazardous components to accomplish the task at hand. Examples include choosing reduced mercury batteries, or planting marigolds or aloes in the garden to ward off certain pests rather than using pesticides. In some cases you may use less toxic chemicals to do a job and in others you may use some physical method, such as sandpaper, scouring pads, or just a little more elbow grease, to achieve the same results.

• For products containing hazardous components, read and follow all directions on product labels. Make sure the containers are always labelled properly and stored safely away from children and pets. When you are finished with containers that are partially full, follow local community policies for household hazardous waste disposal. If at any time you have questions about potentially hazardous ingredients in products and their impacts on human health, do not hesitate to call your local poison control center.

• If you must use products with hazardous components, use only the amounts needed. Leftover materials can be shared with neighbours or donated to a business or charity or you may visit your local libraries and bookstores for guidebooks on non-hazardous household practices.

• Be sure to label all leftover chemicals for future use or adequate disposal. You should put a date of first use on the label as well.

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