What is this indicator ?
Household hazardous waste is the waste generated by residents through the use of hazardous or potentially hazardous products in the home, such as cleaning and garden products, electronics, batteries, oil, and paint. Previously, the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility was open for residents to drop off and dispose of their household hazardous waste so that it could be properly managed. The HHW Facility is now closed to the public and has been replaced by a free curbside collection service. This indicator measures the total volume of HHW collected and focuses on increasing participation.
Why is it important?
HHW poses a substantial hazard to human and environmental health when handled improperly. Among the different materials disposed of in 2014, 17% were chemicals, 40% electronics, 7% universal waste. The City of Santa Monica employs a two-fold strategy for hazardous waste use reduction. The first is reduction of HHW purchased by residents. The second is to increase the amount of existing household hazardous waste that is disposed of properly. Raising awareness of the dangers of improper disposal of HHW and the existence and convenience of the curbside HHW program boosts community performance in this indicator.