NEW Government regulations controlling the handling and disposal of hazardous waste came into force during July. A number of items that were not classified as hazardous previously, have joined a list, which already included oil, asbestos, garden pesticides, household chemicals and car batteries. The new rules mean that redundant household items such as televisions, computer monitors and fluorescent lighting tubes are now classed as hazardous waste. Because of the harmful nature of particular components they now have to be disposed of in a small number of specially equipped landfill sites, or dismantled and the parts recycled to prevent pollution. The harmful elements include the leaded glass in the cathode ray tubes of television and computer monitors, and the mercury that forms a vapour inside fluorescent lighting tubes and allows them to function. Although the tubes are safe provided they are not broken, toxic mercury when released can be very damaging to health and to any ground water that may percolate through an uncontrolled disposal site. It is therefore, essential that these items are kept separate from general household rubbish to enable proper disposal. They cannot for example be collected in a refuse truck that mixes and breaks up the waste before going to a non-hazardous landfill site. This has already been the case for a number of waste items, including surplus pesticides, oils, broken glass and paint. As a result, all hazardous waste from households has to be taken to one of the 19 permanent recycling centres in the county, including Crowndale at Tavistock and Exeter Road in Okehampton. At the centres the items will need to be placed separately as directed by the site staff to ensure safe onward handling and protection of the environment.
