Safe Storage Tips

Safe storage of hazardous products between uses or between collections is vital to keeping your home environment healthy.

Some General Guidelines and Storage Tips

• Keep items out of reach of children and pets.
• If possible, store items away from living spaces.
• Make sure all lids and caps are tight to prevent the product and vapors/odors from leaking into living spaces.
• Keep items away from both heat sources (for safety) and freezing temperatures (to prolong product life).
• Stacking paint cans on top of each other, especially on high shelves, can be risky. Try a lidded box to prevent access instead.
• Paint stored upside down (with lid firmly in place!) will keep it fresher. Oil-based paint can remain useable up to 15 years if stored properly, so a little care can keep the product useable.

Tips for Traveling with Hazardous Products

Safe disposal will require you to bring your items to either a business or recycling depot that accepts them year-round or to a seasonal CVSWMD household hazardous waste collection. In either case, you'll need to take care to prevent spills while enroute and protect yourself in your car.

• Place tightly capped/lidded products in a box or other sturdy carrier and put it either in your trunk or in the back seat. Ideally, you want to have the products as far away from the driver/passengers as possible in case of any mishaps enroute.
• If possible, keep kids and pets out of the car while you're transporting hazardous products to be disposed of.
• Fluorescent bulbs: Do NOT tape bulbs together. This can actually cause bulbs to break. Instead, wrap in bubble wrap or other protective wrapping and place in a sealed plastic bag-just in case the bulb should break along the way. Be sure to pack the bulbs in either a box or in such a way that they won't roll around in your car or trunk.