HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS-WASTE - ASSESSING PUBLIC-ATTITUDES AND AWARENESS

Residents of Larimer County, Colo, were surveyed to determine their level of awareness and attitudes concerning the disposal of household hazardous waste. The information gathered formed a data base used to describe the current status of these issues in the county. Results indicated that approximately 40% of the population were unable to identify hazardous products within their homes, and nearly 70% were unaware of the potential environmental effects caused by improper disposal of these products. The respondents stated that delivery of materials to a hazardous waste collection site (a service unavailable in the community), or a variety of unsafe disposal practices were the common choices as means of disposal. Most residents considered hazardous waste to be a problem of industry, manufacturing and government, and did not rate the disposal of these products from their homes as a great concern.