Guidance for Reuse Facilities - PUB2808

Product re-use programs provide usable products to individuals while reducing household hazardous waste (HHW) disposal costs. Re-use programs offer opportunities to inform the public about use and selection of hazardous chemicals through educational efforts and resources, such as signage, that target waste reduction.

Preparing the re-use area 

Signage

Product re-use areas should have appropriate signage not limited to the following:

• No smoking signs
• Clearly marked exits
• Statement instructing the public that products may not be opened in the re-use area
• Statement excluding people under age 18 from taking products from the re-use area

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The following PPE is recommended for staff use in product re-use areas: 

• Safety glasses or goggles 
• Long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Goggles or safety glasses
• Protective gloves
• Footwear with reinforced toe protection

Safety

The facility works to ensure the following safety measures: 

• A well-maintained fire extinguisher, available when needed
• Entrances suitable for disabled individuals
• Accessibility to water and an eye-wash solution
• Immediate access to a spill kit (clean up all spills immediately).

Screening product materials for re-use

Acceptable materials

Before placing products on re-use shelves, screen each container to confirm the item is:

• Legal for distribution
• Suitable for household use (likely to be taken and used)
• Clearly and correctly labeled (original manufacturer label, not a mixture of materials from several containers)
• In a container with good integrity and closure
• Full enough to be useful for its intended purpose
• Currently registered for use as a household pesticide (not banned) 

Non-acceptable materials

Do not place the following materials on facility re-use shelves:

• Containers that have been opened
• Unidentified materials
• Radioactive materials
• Aerosols containing Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• Labels not written in English or containers with no labels
• Ammunition, explosives or shock-sensitive materials
• Friable asbestos
• Medications of any type (over-the-counter or prescription, pills, liquids, gels or ointments) 
• Paint containing lead or mercury
• Materials commingled or mixed  prior to acceptance at the facility
• Materials restricted or prohibited from circulation by local, state, or federal regulations, including cancelled or banned materials
• Biohazards 
• Commercial-use/business-related materials

Safety and Training Requirements for Facility Staff

Facility staff should be trained to:

• Differentiate reusable products from waste substances
• Provide accurate and clear information on available products in a polite manner

Tracking product re-use quantities

• Re-use items should be inventoried regularly [[list frequency]] to ensure products are not left on re-use shelves indefinitely. Suggested to remove products that remain in the re-use area for longer than one year [[x number of months]] and send for proper disposal.
• Re-use area staff should track types and quantity of materials prior to placing the materials in the re-use area.

General Housekeeping

Separate reusable products from waste materials

• Ensure patrons acknowledge reading the “Program Use Disclaimer”
• Maintain neat, clean, and orderly display shelves
• Facility staff should routinely monitor the integrity of the containers placed in the product re-use area. Immediately remove leaking items from the re-use area and place in secondary containment.
• Label product re-use shelves with product type and place like items in the same area to prevent chemical incompatibility issues.
• Include other good practices used by your facility, such as providing containers, quantity restrictions, and maintaining logs. 

Please note that these are guidelines. You could have better procedures or practices in place. Do not limit your facility’s operations to these guidelines.