Think Twice About What You Throw in Trash, Workers Ask

Garbage collection, most would agree, is difficult and unsavory. But lately, it has become a dangerous line of work as well. It seems that many residents, either unknowingly or carelessly, have been tossing household hazardous wastes into the trash.

While convenient, the habit means that everything from leftover pesticides to motor oil and swimming pool acids wind up in the back of the garbage truck. Then, when the truck’s compactor crunches down on the debris, the containers of toxic liquids explode and douse your friendly trash collector.

“We’ve had a number of employees sprayed with acid and pesticides, causing burns, eye damage and other problems,” said Ernie Anderson, deputy director of refuse collection for the City of San Diego.

Highlighting Hazards

On Wednesday, city and county authorities called a press conference to highlight the hazards their workers face when residents discard toxic paint solvents, acids and other nasty wastes into the household trash can.

Officials urged residents to hold on to their hazardous materials and transport them to special collection facilities set up to accept such products periodically throughout the year.

“Maybe if they realize the dangers our guys face, people will be more careful and dispose of this stuff properly,” said Jeff Ritchie, chairman of the Solid Waste Industry Committee, which represents the private haulers that contract with the county to provide garbage services.

Lost Work Hours

Anderson said that garbage collectors suffer more work-related injuries than any other city workers. Such injuries account for about 20,000 lost work hours annually in the refuse collection division, he said.

Also, when certain chemical wastes blend while in the truck’s giant jaws, spontaneous combustion can occur. Six trash trucks--which go for about $120,000 apiece--have burned in recent years, Anderson said.

In conjunction with the nonprofit Environmental Health Coalition, city and county officials are designing a campaign to urge residents to develop more responsible trash disposal habits. They also are stepping up their hazardous waste collection program to make it easier for people to dispose of the hazardous materials, which are either recycled or sent on to a licensed disposal facility in Santa Barbara County.

The next pickup in San Diego will be Sept. 26 at The Children’s School, 2225 Torrey Pines Road. In North County, the next collection day is Nov. 21 at San Pasqual High School in Escondido. There is no landfill within San Diego County that is licensed to accept hazardous waste.