Toxic cocktails
The toxic paint spill at the Ohio Gulch Transfer Station
focused attention on a serious problem.
Common materials like paint, household spot removers and pesticides are
considered toxic wastes when they’re headed for disposal. More than one homeowner or
builder who has called the transfer station asking what to do with leftover paint has been
told that it cannot be disposed of there. They are advised to call out-of-area
waste-handling companies for advice.
That’s a dead end. They have no good advice. Companies that handle
toxic wastes generally handle waste generated by large industries, not individuals.
It’s a good bet that cans of rubber cement, leftover paint and
solvents are rapidly piling up in backyard sheds and basements all over Blaine County.
Homeowners and builders need help. Landfills in other areas commonly
offer days when toxic wastes can be taken to their local landfill for handling. The Ohio
Gulch station offers no such service.
With no local options, we risk having toxic chemicals poured on open
land where they may enter groundwater—the stuff we drink.
Blaine County and the Southern Idaho Solid Waste District need to
figure out how to handle common liquid wastes, set up a program and let residents know
about it. Otherwise we risk more spills, more frustration and freshwater cocktails that
may pack a nasty punch.
