The Lakes Region household hazardous waste collection days will be July 30 and Aug. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit the Lakes Region Planning Commission at lakesrpc.org/serviceshhw.asp.
Household hazardous wastes hide in the most obvious places: under kitchen and bathroom sinks, on shelves, closets and cabinets. They contaminate our water, soil, air, ecosystems, and our bodies. Once they enter our bodies, they can surface in the form of health conditions ranging from asthma to cancer. They hide in household cleaners, personal care products and cosmetics, adhesives, floor and oven cleaners, arts and craft supplies, pool chemicals, herbicides and pesticides, coal tar-based driveway sealer, car wax and polish, mixed motor oil, antifreeze, oil-based paints, solvents, and sealants and more. When disposed of improperly, they can pollute our drinking water (surface and groundwater) and soil.
Short-term health conditions associated with some pesticides, paints, and solvents include weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, headaches, sweating, tremors, and convulsions. Long-term health effects caused from these chemical products can lead to cancer and birth defects.
There are ways to reduce our exposure to these chemicals and our impact on the environment: buy only the amount of the product you need, reuse products or donate them to others who need them, and purchase fewer products with less harmful ingredients. Use healthier alternatives by creating cleaners from baking soda and vinegar.
To learn about the PermaCityLife plans, which could dramatically transform Franklin, attend a free presentation July 11 at 7 p.m., by Todd Workman, executive director of the non-profit behind the ambitious effort. The presentation will be given in the Highland Lake Inn on Maple Street in Andover at 7 p.m. Sponsored by the Andover Institute, it is open to the public at no charge. PermaCityLife’s is working towards positive and sustainable economic growth in downtown Franklin while protecting past investments. For more information, visit permacitylife.com.