Those seemingly innocuous bottles of nail polish...

Those seemingly innocuous bottles of nail polish remover or cans of car wax are hazardous to your health.

And the County of Orange will spend $5 million this year collecting such everyday household items that are hazardous materials and keeping them out of landfills, according to Jaimy Gentry, staff analyst for the county’s Integrated Waste Management Department.

“People buy things off the shelf thinking since they are available, they are safe,” Gentry said. “They don’t realize these are chemicals they are buying.”

By educating people as to what should not be thrown in with the rest of the regular trash, the landfills will be protected.

The best way to solve the household hazardous materials disposal problem is for people to completely use the product before discarding.

“Buy smaller quantities, or share,” Gentry said. “If you have an ant problem, your neighbor probably does, too. Go in together on the bug spray, and you won’t have to worry about disposal.”

COLLECTION CENTERS

There are two collection centers in Orange County for hazardous household materials--the Anaheim Regional Collection Center at 1131 Blue Gum St. and the Huntington Beach Regional Collection Center at 17121 Nichols St. A third collection center will open the end of August in San Juan Capistrano.

About 22,000 have visited the collection centers since their respective openings, the Anaheim site in July, 1990, and the Huntington Beach site in February, according to Gentry.

The centers’ hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The facilities will close early on any given day if they reach maximum storage capacity. They are also closed on rainy days.

MATERIALS ACCEPTED AT THE COLLECTION CENTERS

Here are some examples of items that should be taken to the collection centers for disposal.

From the Kitchen: Partially filled aerosol cans, aluminum cleaners, ammonia-based cleaners, floor care products, furniture polish, metal polish, window cleaner and lye-based oven cleaner.

From the Garage: Automotive batteries, transmission fluid, brake fluid, car wax, latex paint, oil-based paint, glue, paint thinner, paint stripper and primer, varnish and wood preservative.

From the Bathroom: Bathroom cleaner, disinfectant, nail polish and nail polish remover.

From the Garden: Fertilizer, fungicide, insecticide, rat poison and weed killer.

Miscellaneous: Artists’ paint, lighter fluid, photographic chemicals and swimming pool chemicals.

COLLECTION CENTER REGULATIONS

Proof of Orange County residency is required.

The centers accept materials from households only and not from businesses, churches, schools, government agencies or nonprofit organizations.

Materials must be in their original containers, except for motor oil and antifreeze.

Containers must have lids, cannot be leaking and must be made of sound, non-breakable material.

The amount of material taken in is limited to five gallons or 50 pounds per visit.

Materials cannot be combined or mixed, except for the same type of paints.

OTHER HAZARDOUS ITEMS AND HOW TO DISPOSE OF THEM

Antifreeze, car batteries, motor oil and turpentine can either be taken to one of the collection centers or to a place that accepts such items for recycling. To find the outlet nearest you, contact the California Integrated Waste Management Board at (800) 553-2962.

In the case of chlorine bleach, spot removers, after shave and perfume, the entire contents should be used and the empty container placed in the regular trash.

Drain cleaners can be washed down the drain. Medicine should be either used or washed down the drain.

To dispose of biological and radioactive waste or compressed gas cylinders, contact the Hazardous Material hot line at (714) 665-6970. To dispose of ammunition or explosives, contact the hot line or your local police department.

HAZARDOUS COMPOSITION

Since the collection centers opened, officials have been monitoring the type of materials brought in. Here’s the breakdown by category:

AEROSOL CANS: 7% FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS: 4% POISONS: 4% AUTO BATTERIES: 4% CORROSIVES: 3% USED MOTOR OIL: 28% PAINT: 50% Source: County of Orange Integrated Waste Management Department

Los Angeles Times