Surveying Household Hazardous Waste Generation and Collection "Trends in Arizona"

Residents of Maricopa County, Arizona were surveyed using a computerized survey instrument to assess purchases of household hazardous materials (HHM), disposal practices for household hazardous waste (HHW), attitudes regarding the environmental and health effects of HHW and preferred disposal and funding methods. The study results indicate that the residents of Maricopa County are purchasing large quantities of HHM and may be improperly disposing of pesticides, cleaners, paint products, antifreeze and batteries. The majority of the residents had heard of the term HHW and thought that HHW could cause pollution or health problems. Residents prefer a permanent collection site less than five miles away that is funded by a tax on products, at the time of sale, as a disposal option. The results from Maricopa County, a county without a permanent collection facility, were compared to survey and actual results from Pima County, Arizona which has had collection events since 1986 and a permanent facility since 1990.