What is Hazards Out?
Dedicated to the proper collection and disposal of household hazardous waste for a cleaner, safer future.
OUR MISSION
Hazards Out is an initiative of the European Waste Management Association, FEAD in partnership with ACR+ and Hazardous Waste Europe facilitated by NOWMORE, to raise awareness on the mandatory separate collection of household hazardous waste and support the local authorities and other relevant stakeholders in the establishment of effective HHW management strategies.
The main objective is to promote the implementation of separate collection of household hazardous waste mandatory by January 2025 through the exchange of best practices and collaboration with local authorities, industry, and other stakeholders.
This will be achieved through the design and delivery of a series of workshops for municipalities and other relevant stakeholders focused on:
- Data collection; analysis, and legislation overview;
- Peer learning through exchange of know-how and best practices on the separate collection of problematic waste streams;
- Support for the development of HHW management strategies;
- Building a network of professionals.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW)
Hazardous waste poses a greater risk to the environment and human health and therefore requires a stricter control regime, separate collection and special treatment. It is defined in the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) as waste which possess one or more of the following hazardous properties:
- explosive
- oxidizing
- flammable
- irritant
- harmful
- toxic
- carcinogenic
- corrosive
- infectious
- toxic for reproduction
- mutagenic
- release of an acute toxic gas
- sensitizing
- ecotoxic,
- waste capable of exhibiting any of the above hazardous properties not directly exhibited by the original waste.
Hazardous waste that is produced by households is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), such as:
- Hazardous Household Chemicals (household cleaning and personal care products; paints, varnishes, inks and glues; household and garden pesticides; photo-chemicals; packaging),
- Domestic Healthcare Wastes (unused pharmaceutical products, sharps and other potentially infectious waste),
- Construction and Demolition Waste (asbestos waste, treated wood, coal tar and tarred products),
- Automotive Maintenance Waste (automotive products, surface polish, brake fluids and anti-freeze fluids, contaminated absorbing materials and used oil filters),
- Mercury-Containing Waste other than WEEE,
- some of WEEE,
- Batteries and accumulators,
- waste oils.
HHW should be collected separately to avoid contamination that could lower recycling quality and to ensure environmentally sound management of that hazardous waste.
