Just when you thought you knew everything about recycling; just when you thought you knew it was safe to take out your trash; BANG; the state of California puts out a new list of items banned from our landfills. Ok, to be fair to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), these regulations have been on the books since 2002, and the DTSC did give our city and county recycling coordinators time to develop programs to handle this waste.

As of February 9, 2006, specified Universal Waste is banned from disposal in household or business trash. These items contain harmful chemicals that can be released into the environment and can contaminate our air, land and water. What is "universal waste?" The DTSC web site (www.dtsc.ca.gov) gives the following definition: "Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are generated by a wide variety of people. Some specified universal wastes could go into landfills, but this disposal allowance would be phased out by 2006."

That set this column in motion as the time for putting "specified universal wastes" into our landfills has now expired. My readers are savvy and have an edge about the proper recycling and disposal of these materials as I have been writing about them for years. So what universal waste materials are we talking about? We all know that consumer electronic devices and the cathode ray tubes that are in TVs and computer monitors are on the list. New items include household batteries, aerosol cans, fluorescent bulbs, and devises containing mercury.

Let's start with household batteries. Americans throw away more than 2.5 billion batteries each year. Most of us assume that batteries are safe. I routinely pick up batteries when I am out walking. One time I noticed that something in my pocket was getting hot. The batteries were still active and were reacting to each other causing extreme heat. Have you ever looked closely at the battery label? You may be in for a surprise. Every battery has a warning on it: "Do not dispose of in fire, recharge, put in backwards, mix with used or other battery types. Battery may explode, get hot or leak and cause personal injury." For your convenience, VALCORE Recycling accepts household batteries for recycling.

Aerosol cans are second on the list. Most aerosol cans use a hydrocarbon propellant, which is very flammable. Non-empty aerosol cans are classified as hazardous wastes for several reasons: the pressurized contents may explode when heated; the propellant may be ignitable or toxic; or the product itself may be ignitable, corrosive, or toxic. I checked a can of shaving cream and there was a warning: "Avoid spraying toward open flame. Contents under pressure. "And that can of whipped cream may have an unexpected punch."

Fluorescent bulbs may come as a surprise to some of my readers. All of us are trying to do the right thing to save electricity by changing from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. There is even a new law, Title 24 of the state building code, that requires energy-efficient fluorescent lighting in remodels and new construction. Unfortunately, nobody is telling us just how hazardous this bulbs are. Broken fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps and sodium vapor lamps can release mercury into the air and water. Interestingly, there is no hazardous warning on the box containing my compact fluorescent lamps. We have placed these bulbs in the majority of our fixtures at our house. We have been disappointed that the lamps never lasted the touted seven years. After much prodding, one company admitted that the compact lamps only have so many ‘start-ups' and are meant to be on for long periods of time. We have a habit of turning off lights when we exit rooms. So the energy savings from these expensive bulbs in our house is negligible.

And then there's mercury. Mercury is being phased out of a lot of products but it can still be found in fluorescent lamps, thermostats, electrical switches and relays, pilot lights, sensors, gauges, and thermometers. Scientists estimate that over 700 pounds of mercury enter our Bay watershed each year. This mercury comes from sewage, urban runoff and atmospheric fallout from furnaces, crematoria and cement manufacturing. Mercury also flows downstream from decommissioned mines such as St.John's mine, which once operated on the north edge of Vallejo.

Now that you know what is hazardous, where do you take it for safe disposal and recycling?

Vallejo and Benicia residents can take their waste to the Vallejo-Napa Household Hazardous Waste Collection facility located at 889 Devlin Road (next to the transfer station) just north of American Canyon. This free service is open every Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Call 800-984-9661 for more information. Businesses can also use this facility, but they need to make an appointment and there is a fee.

For more recycling information, check out the recycling guide in the yellow pages of your phonebook, visit VALCORE's web site, or the Solano County recycling web site: www.recycle-guide.com.