EPA collects one million pounds of waste

Washington, DC— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that an estimated one million pounds of household hazardous waste has been collected in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Household hazardous waste typically consists of cleaning products found in most homes as well as lawn and garden products, pesticides and herbicides, fuels and paints as well as batteries found in most garages.

Most of these ordinary household products are safe when stored and used under normal circumstances in the home, but can endanger the public when co-mingled. When disposed along with ordinary household garbage and then taken to a landfill for final disposal, these products can cause long term damage to the environment.

EPA has worked with local agencies and parishes to establish household hazardous waste collection centers in the following parishes in Louisiana: St. Tammany, Lafourche, Plaquemines, Orleans, St. Bernard, Vermillion, Cameron, and two collection centers in Jefferson Parish.