Over six billion tons of chemical waste comes from households like yours.
Take a moment to think of what is under your sink.
If you have drain cleaners, household cleaners, bleach, pesticides, or paints, you have products that shouldn’t be disposed of carelessly.
In order to protect our environment, our communities, and our water supplies, it’s extremely important that hazardous waste be disposed of properly. If you live in the City of Lewisville, Texas, you have convenient hazardous waste collection every month! Take advantage of the city’s hazardous waste collection program, especially for products like caustic drain acids and other household chemicals.
Why It Matters How Drain Cleaners Get Thrown Away
Because drain cleaners are so helpful and the point of them is to be poured down the drain, many people forget that they are actually chemical products that can cause damage if disposed of or used improperly.
Many drain cleaners are considered “corrosives,” which are known for causing skin damage or eating away metal and other materials. They also tend to be poisonous if ingested or if fumes are inhaled in close quarters.
Drain cleaners contain two products that are considered hazardous: lye and sodium hypochlorite. Lye is a common material found in soaps, water treatment, and more, but it is toxic if it is not used correctly. It can cause chemical burns or blindness and is even considered explosive if combined with certain products.
Sodium hypochlorite, while found in many cleaners, can also cause damage to your skin, lungs, nose, and eyes if inhaled or spilled. Long exposure can cause headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Due to this, most workplaces restrict their employees’ contact with the chemical.
Stay safe while using drain cleaners:
- Use gloves and a mask.
- Always use drain cleaners in well-ventilated areas.
- If you spill any on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible to avoid burns.
- If any drain cleaner gets in your eyes, rinse immediately, and seek medical attention.
- If ingested, call your poison control center.
- Clean any spills as soon as they happen to avoid damage to floors, counters, and other surfaces.
How Not to Get Rid of Drain Cleaners
- Never throw them in the garbage.
- Never throw them on the ground.
- Never flush them down the toilet or dispose of them any other way that lands them in the sewer.
There are many dangers that come from incorrectly disposing of these items, including:
- Contaminating water, septic tanks, and water treatment systems
- Injuring workers who have to clean them up
- Damaging your pipes, if poured down your toilet
The Best Way to Dispose of Them Properly – Lewisville Hazardous Waste Collection
Lewisville residents have an easy solution! The city has a household waste collection center to accept all of the items you have lying around that need to be disposed of carefully.
In 2007 Lewisville opened the Residential Convenience Center (RCC) to make it even easier. Located at 330 W. Jones Street, the RCC is open on the second Saturday of every month from 9 AM to noon to provide residents with a safe place to drop off the approved items, which include everything from electronics to cleaners to craft chemicals.
Before you go to the RCC, remember:
- If you are not a resident of Lewisville, you cannot use this center – You will be asked for photo ID when you come.
- The RCC will not accept materials outside of the posted times.
- Absolutely no items should be left outside of the building.
The RCC in the City of Lewisville lists drain cleaners as one of their accepted products! Instead of adding your unused cleaner to your garbage can, bring it to the center.
Alternatives to Chemical Drain Cleaners
Often times, there are ways to completely avoid using drain cleaners, thereby bypassing potential damage to yourself or your home and pipes—and making the throwaway process easier.
When used correctly, a plunger or plumber’s snake can do wonders on small clogs without the need for mixtures, chemicals, or products. Both are also extremely inexpensive.
If neither the plumber’s snake nor the plunger work, try a non-chemical mixture, like baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice.
If you want to go with a store-bought product, consider using an enzymatic drain cleaner like the one offered by CW Service Pros’s technicians. It contains bacteria that will slowly eat away organic waste, such as hair or food. Enzymatic cleaners are environmentally safe and absolutely chemical-free. If you use one regularly, you may even avoid slow drains and clogs altogether!
If Unsure, Call a Plumber!
Before purchasing a drain cleaner, check the ingredients, and have a throwaway plan. Some heavy-duty cleaners are available in local stores, but they may end up doing damage to more than just a clog. If you’re unsure, ask a certified plumber about the product and its potential effects.
By checking labels, researching products, and being responsible for the disposal of hazardous materials, you can do your part to help your community and the environment. If you have any questions about disposing drain cleaners or the RCC, call the Lewisville Department of Public Services at 972-219-3510. Before you head to the RCC, check their entire list of accepted items. You may notice that there are other household products you could take to be disposed of as well!
As always, CW Service Pros is available to answer any questions you have about drain cleaners, drain-cleaning solutions, and clogs in general. If you’d like to learn more about our drain cleaning solutions for your Lewisville home, Call 972-395-2597 today to speak to a technician.
