b'Items That Contain Heavy Metal UseMany common items in our Special Carehomes contain heavy metals With: like mercury, cadmium, computers arsenic, and lead. These metals home thermometers are dangerous, particularly to smoke detectors fetuses and children. They should televisions also be treated as hazardous waste. energy-saving bulbs Alkaline batteries can be disposed fl of in your regular trash but not theuorescent bulbs rechargeable or small button-type batteries, mercury thermometers for example, those used in watches or hearing aids.Bring them to the Mercury shed at the Chatham Transfer Station.Contact the National Recycling Technology Project for information on recycling your computer and other electronic equipment.Also, you can easily recycle your empty printer cartridges at your local office supply store or use the postpaid envelopes available at the Post Office. Your local office supply store may also accept old printers, computers, monitors, laptops, and fax machines.Above ground oil tanks are also a threat to groundwater. These tanks rust from the inside.Every yearmany tanks fail and leak into the underlying soil and groundwater. The costs of cleanups are staggering. If your tank shows signs of corrosion or is over twenty years old, it should be replaced with a new, safer stainless steel tank. Taking Action Well, whats a person to do? Become informed!Our household activities have a serious impact on water quality. Many of the products we fi nd in our home are toxic, and the list keeps growing as more research is done. Read labels so you know what you are buying and what the potential hazards are. Follow the directions on the label. Use the least toxic product you can fi nd and buy only what you need. Never use more of the product than the manufacturer recommends. Dispose of your unwanted household hazardous materials properly. Check at the Chatham Transfer Station for alternative means or hazardouswaste collection days.Dont fl ush medications down the toilet.Take unused medications out of their containers, mix with used cat litter or coff ee grounds, and throw them in the regular trash. Use alternatives (see following page).And Last . . .Consider walking, bicycling, car pooling, or taking the Capes public transportation system.Page 33bluepages.indd 33 8/26/2009 1:51:18 PM'