Managing Household Hazardous Waste

W. David Conn, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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Publisher website: http://www.informaworld.com
Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01944368908976018

NOTE: At the time of publication, the author W. David Conn was affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Currently, April 2008, he is Vice Provost of Academic Programs & Undergraduate Education and Professor of City & Regional Planning at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

Abstract

Many household products contain hazardous chemicals. When discarded, these products become household hazardous waste, which poses a potential threat to human health and the environment. Planners may be called upon to assist local government officials, who increasingly are coming under pressure to implement special HHW programs, especially collection day events. However, there has been little systematic examination of the actual risks created by HHW, or of the full costs, benefits, and liabilities associated with collection days and other programs. This article synthesizes the current literature on HHW and identifies directions for needed research.