Paints, solvents, and other chemicals used in home improvement projects can pollute San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean when poured down home drains or street drains. Once in the underground sewer system, these products can pass through the treatment plant and end up in the Bay and Ocean, harming fish and wildlife. Throwing away hazardous household products in the garbage can harm garbage collectors, cause fires, and eventually contaminate the groundwater beneath the landfill.

Remember these tips:

• Do not discard leftover materials into inside drains, street drains, or the garbage.
• Do not use solvent-based products to clean equipment in the sink.
• Clean equipment with water-based products in the sink after excess material, such as paint, has been removed.
• Use water-based products instead of solvent- or oil-based products whenever possible.

The proper disposal and cleaning methods are listed in this guide.

   
The Right Tools

 Using the right tools makes the job easier and safer- and can help your job look more professional.

Choosing the Right Brush

Look for best quality brushes- with proper maintenance and cleanup, they will last for years and perform better than cheaper alternatives.

• Look for brushes with bristles that are even, straight, and uniform.
• Good brushes are generally more expensive, but they will carry and deliver more paint. They will also lay the coating out smoother and more evenly.
• Use synthetic brushes (nylon and polyester) for water-based paints and natural Chinese bristles for oil-based paints.
• Use the right size brush for the job. A 3-inch straight-edged brush is a good choice for cutting in paint lines at ceilings and in corners. A 2-inch trim brush works well for painting woodwork. A tapered sash brush is good for painting corners and window sills.

Choosing the Right Roller

Unlike brushes, roller covers don t vary much in quality. They are difficult to clean and often fall apart as you try to clean them. When finished painting, simply roll off excess paint and let dry. Once dry, they can be wrapped in newspaper and thrown away in the garbage.

• Rollers should have a wire frame with nylon bearings, a comfortable handle, and a threaded end for attaching pole extensions when painting high walls and ceilings.
• Choose a long-nap roller for rough or heavily textured surfaces. Choose a short-nap roller for smooth surfaces.

 

   The Right Tools

 Brush Comb removes excess paint from brushes and rollers.

Brush Spinner makes brush cleaning easy.

Cat Litter is a great absorbent material for cleaning spills.

Cloth Drop Cloths protect floors from paint drips and makes cleanup easier.

Cloth Rags for applying stain or finish, wiping up drips, or general cleaning purposes.

Fire Extinguisher will fight wood, oil, gasoline, and electrical fires (rated A-B-C).

Gloves (neoprene) are impervious to most chemicals.

Goggles should be worn whenever dust or chemicals might get in or near your eyes.

HEPA Vacuums have special filters which pick up fine particles such as lead dust. They can be rented or purchased at some hardware stores.

Ladder should be used when working above your head. There are many types of ladders available- choose the right one for the job.

Paint Pads work well with water-based finishes.

Plastic Tarps (6-mil thick) for covering work areas when removing lead-based paint.

Plastic Tray Liner (used with roller trays) will make cleaning up easier.

Scrapers remove paint from wooden surfaces.

Spray Bottle, filled with water, can be used to dampen painted surfaces before scraping or sanding to keep dust out of the air.

Soaking Tray is used for preparing wallpaper.

Wallpaper Brush, Plastic Blade, and Seam Roller help wallpaper adhere to the wall.

   The Right Products

For most jobs there are usually several types of products to choose from, such as oil-based and water-based paints. Naturally, the goal is to buy a product that will get the job done well and as quickly as possible. Fortunately, most hazardous products now have less-toxic counterparts that get the job done well.

For example, water-based paint is less hazardous than oil-based paint, dries faster, saves time, and eliminates the need for chemical solvents for clean-up and hazardous waste disposal. And your wall and trim will look good.

Remember to buy the least-hazardous product when you have a choice. Many stores have helpful employees who can advise you on the safest and most effective materials for your purposes. The following sections on product labels and water-based products outline good basic information. The reverse side of this guide will also help you select the right product for particular tasks.

 

   Importance of Labels

Make a habit of reading the label before you buy, even if you already "know" a product. Labels provide important safety information as well as help you make the best use of the product and alert you to any changes in formulation or concentration. Labels also list the manufacturer s telephone number in case you have questions. Read both the front and back labels.

Key Things to Look For

• Warnings and safety precautions.
• Products marked Danger are the most hazardous. Consider a less hazardous product.
• If a label states Use with Adequate Ventilation, plan to do the job outdoors if possible.
• If the label states Flammable or Combustible, the product or its vapors can catch fire. Disconnect power equipment and other ignition sources. Make sure you have good ventilation.

More is Not Better

• Use amounts as directed on the label. Excess amounts will only lead to more waste and may make your project take more time.
• Only buy the amount you ll need for the job so you won t have leftovers to dispose of or store.

   Water-Based Products Are Safer

Water-based products contain fewer or no oil-based solvents, are generally easier to clean up, dry faster, and are appropriate for many uses. Look for Water-Based or Water Cleanup on the label. Even water-based products contain chemicals, so always take precautions.

Look for These Water-Based Products

Paints       Finishes
Stains       Paint Strippers

Oil-Based Products

Oil-based solvents are contained in many paints, paint strippers, stains, and finishes. These products are generally more dangerous than water-based products because they give off more vapors and many can catch fire.

5 Problems with Oil-based Solvents

• Solvent-based products are harder to clean up and require hazardous solvents, such as paint thinner, for cleaning.
• Solvents and solvent-soaked rags can cause fires.
• With some solvents, explosion is also a danger.
• Chemical solvents are environmental hazards when discarded into inside drains, street drains, or the garbage.
• Inhaling solvent vapors can make you nauseated or dizzy. Direct contact can cause irritation and burns on the skin and in the eyes. Some solvents, such as methylene chloride, may cause cancer.

See the Safety Tips section to learn how to protect yourself when working with solvents.

   Getting Started

 Plan Ahead

• If you re tackling a big project, take measurements and draw plans. This will help you determine the right amount of paint or other supplies you ll need.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers, such as the Poison Control Center 1 (800) 876-4766 and 911, by the telephone.
• Keep a first aid kit handy.
• Tell someone where you will be working in case of an emergency.

Gather Tools and Supplies

• Read the labels for safety precautions and warnings.
• If the product label calls for safety equipment (such as goggles or gloves) be sure you have them available.
• Test tools, techniques, and products in a small inconspicuous area first to see if results are satisfactory.

Work Area

• Block off work areas to keep children and pets away from hazards.
• When working inside, open windows, and doors so air will circulate.
• Keep product containers closed when you are not using them.

   Safety Tips

 Did You Know?

• Wearing large safety goggles over eyeglasses is safer than using safety glasses with contact lenses. Vapors from chemical solvents can be trapped between the lens and the eye and cause irritation.
• Dust masks will only protect you from large particles. They will not protect you from asbestos, small dust particles, or chemical vapors, such as solvents.
• Using the wrong respirator, or wearing a respirator improperly, can be more dangerous than not using one at all. If a product requires a respirator, consult the Safety Equipment section of the Yellow Pages. Find a company that can help you select the right respirator, ensure proper fitting, and train you on proper use.
• Accidental ingestion of chemicals can happen. Don t eat, drink, or smoke on the job. Once the job is complete, wash your hands before eating.
• Pregnant women should avoid using any type of chemical product.
• If you have any history of respiratory disease or heart conditions, you should avoid products with inhalation hazards, such as solvent-based products.
• Good ventilation means that air is moving in and out. When working indoors, keep windows and doors open so air will circulate.
• Work areas should be free from sparks or open flames.
• It s important to turn off electricity to a room to avoid shock when removing switch and outlet plates.
• Work clothes should be washed separately from your regular clothing.

   Cleaning Spills

If the spill is too large or you feel overwhelmed by fumes, leave the area and call 911 immediately.

On Your Body

• If you spill a chemical on your body, wash it off with plenty of soap and water. If it s oil-based, use vegetable oil first, then soap and water. Avoid using solvents for removing chemicals off the body.

Smaller Spills

• Wipe up small spills (less than one gallon) with rags or paper towels.
• Rags soaked with solvent-based materials can spontaneously catch fire. They should be placed in a sealed metal container.

Larger Spills

• For larger spills, such as a tipped-over paint can, spread absorbent material, such as cat litter, around the spill to keep it under control and to prevent it from entering any drain.
• Sweep up absorbent, working from the edges toward the middle. (Don t use a metal shovel that can produce sparks.) Absorb all of the liquid with absorbent and place it in a container. Scrub the spill area with liquid detergent and cover with absorbent again. Place absorbent in the same container.
• Rags soaked with solvent-based materials should be placed in a sealed metal container.
• Take saturated absorbent, rags, and broken product containers to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility for disposal. (See Free Disposal.) Do not discard any chemicals into inside drains, street drains, or the garbage.

   Storing Supplies

 Neatness counts. You can prevent buying chemicals you already have by storing chemicals in a clean, orderly place. If you use up the supplies you already have, you ll save time and money and your home will be a bit safer. Consider the following tips when storing chemicals:

• Keep product lids tightly closed.
• Keep products in original containers so you know what they are. If you do not have the original container, label the new container (with contents and date) and close it securely.
• Keep all chemical products in a locked cabinet in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources, and out of the reach of children.
• Never store incompatible chemicals together. Oxidizers, which include nitrate fertilizers and pool chlorine, should not be stored with flammable products, such as paint thinners.
• Rags soaked with solvent-based materials can spontaneously catch fire. They should be placed in a sealed metal container.
• Unwanted supplies should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. (See Free Disposal.)
• Empty containers (five gallons or less in size) if completely dried, can be thrown away in the garbage.
• Never let small children play with 5-gallon buckets containing liquids. Children can fall in and drown.

   Safe Disposal

 Home improvement projects involve many types of chemical products, such as paints, thinners, strippers, and solvents. These should not be poured down sinks, toilets, floor drains, or street drains or thrown away in the garbage. These products contain hazardous chemicals which, when poured down drains, can pass through the treatment plant and end up in San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, harming fish and wildlife. Throwing away hazardous household products in the garbage can harm garbage collectors, cause fires, and may eventually contaminate the groundwater under the landfill.

All liquid chemicals and most solid chemicals should be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility and should not be thrown away in the garbage or down the drain.

What Can Go In The Garbage

• Empty containers (less than 5 gallons in capacity), if completely dried. Leave caps or lids off so garbage collectors know they are empty.
• Empty aerosol cans
• Water-based spackle and putty

What Can Go Down The Drain

• Rinse water from cleaning tools and equipment used with water-based products. (The label will indicate Water-Based or Water Cleanup.) Be sure to remove the bulk of the product before cleaning.

   Free Disposal

San Francisco residents can safely dispose of household hazardous products at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. No fee is charged. Please bring proof of residency, such as a driver s license or utility bill. State law allows you to transport a maximum of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip.

Hours: 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday only
(415) 554-4333

San Francisco businesses are not allowed to use the facility on a regular basis; however, the Facility schedules appointments to accept hazardous waste from small businesses on special days (about once a month), for a fee. Please call (415) 330-1425 if you would like more information.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility

The Facility Will Accept:

• Paint and paint related products (paints, thinners, chemical solvents, strippers, varnishes, lacquers, etc.)
• Art and hobby supplies (glues, photographic chemicals, paints, etc.)
• Cleaning supplies (drain, toilet bowl, oven, etc.)
• Automotive products (motor oil, lead acid batteries, antifreeze, brake fluids, etc.)
• Garden supplies (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, etc.)
• Medical waste and hypodermic needles (Call (415) 330-1400 for packaging requirements.)
• Pool/spa chemicals
• Aerosol cans with liquid or pressure still in them
• Lead paint chips & asbestos (Must be bagged properly. Call (415) 330-1400 for instructions.)
• Miscellaneous household products (roofing, tar, wood preservatives, broken thermometers, etc.)

The Facility cannot accept the following: radioactive materials, explosives, reactives, and pressurized gas cylinders over 20 pounds.

Empty containers less than 5 gallons in capacity, if completely dried, can be thrown away in the garbage. Please do not bring empty containers to the Facility.

How to Use The Facility

Follow these important guidelines when using the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility:

• Transport no more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste in your vehicle. State law strictly prohibits transportation of larger amounts without a license.
• Do not mix products.
• Keep all chemicals in their original containers. If the original container is not available, label the new container with its contents.
• Make sure lids are sealed tightly.
• Prevent leakage. If an individual container is leaking, place it inside a larger container or transfer the contents to a new container and label it.
• Pack containers in cardboard boxes to make it safer to unload your vehicle and to prevent containers from tipping over in your vehicle. Do not put everything in plastic bags.

If you have wastes that were produced by a San Francisco business, please call (415) 330-1425 for disposal information.

If you need more information about the Facility, call (415) 554-3444.

   Special Problems

 Lead Paint

If your home was built before 1978, chances are there is lead paint under the layers of newer paint. This is not necessarily a hazard unless painted surfaces are peeling, chipping, or removed improperly. Lead paint chips and dust from exterior paint can contaminate the soil and end up in the street drain.

Health Risks

• Lead, which can be ingested through paint dust or chips, can cause learning, growth, and stomach problems in children. It can also affect the blood, nervous system, and reproductive system in adults.

Safer Methods

• Call 1 (800) 597- LEAD to find contractors who are certified to work with lead.
• For a how-to guide to working with lead paint, call (415) 554-8930.
• Do not disturb lead-painted surfaces if they are in good condition.
• Consider replacing old wood windows and doors with new ones.

If You Must Remove Lead Paint Yourself

• Cover entire work area with plastic tarps (6-mil plastic) to catch dust and chips before you start. For a big job inside, seal the room off with plastic. If outside, cover neighboring areas too.
• Dampen painted surfaces with water before you scrape or sand. (Use a spray bottle for smaller jobs.) If you use pressure washers, you need to contain the water.
• To clean up, wipe surfaces with baby wipes or a wet disposable cloth. Then use a HEPA vacuum.
• Clean plastic tarps with a HEPA vacuum before folding. Paint chips must be bagged properly. (Call (415) 330-1400 for instructions.)

   Special Problems

Asbestos

Until the late 1970s, asbestos was frequently used in home building materials and products, such as insulation on pipes, ducts, furnaces, linoleum, and sheet rock joint compound. When asbestos is damaged or disturbed by a remodeling project, particles can be released into the air which poses a health risk to you and your family.

Asbestos Dangers

A health threat exists when fibers are released or disturbed and float freely in the air. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer or other lung diseases.

Is it Asbestos?

You cannot tell if a material contains asbestos without having samples analyzed by a qualified laboratory. Asbestos consultants can perform inspections and collect samples if needed. In the Yellow Pages under Asbestos Consulting & Testing you will find laboratories to analyze samples for you or consultants to perform inspections and sampling. To verify a consultant s certification, call the Cal-OSHA Asbestos Consultant Certification Unit at (916) 574-2993.

Safer Methods

• Do not disturb materials containing asbestos that are in good condition.
• If asbestos materials are falling apart or crumbling, do not remove them yourself. Hire a trained contractor. Contractors are listed in the Yellow Pages under Asbestos Abatement and Removal Service. To verify the company s contractor s license, call the Contractors State License Board at (415) 469-6200.
• If you need further assistance, call the Toxics Information Center at (415) 206-5477.

   Hiring a Professional

Hire a Licensed Contractor

• Compile a list of names by talking to your friends or by looking in the Yellow Pages.
• Contact several of the contractors and ask for references for similar jobs. Check all references provided.
• To see if complaints have been filed against the contractor(s), contact your local Better Business Bureau at (415) 243-9999 or the California Department of Consumer Affairs at 1 (800) 344-9940.
• Request a copy of the appropriate licenses and insurance documents.
• Ask two or three of the contractors to bid on the work. Provide the same specifications to each bidder.

Protect Yourself

• Get everything in writing. The contract should include: start and completion dates, detailed account of the work, materials to be used, disposal methods for wastes, procedures for altering the original plans, warranties, termination conditions, full cost of the project, and a schedule of payments.
• Include a mechanics lien clause if the contractor is going to work with suppliers or subcontractors. The clause should require your contractor to show you proof that suppliers and subcontractors have been paid so that you cannot be sued for nonpayment of bills.
• If building permits are necessary, make sure the contractor obtains the necessary permits and takes full responsibility for following local codes.
• Under normal circumstances, never pay for work ahead of time. (Some building contractors may require a deposit for materials.)

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