CHAPTER 455F
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE

  455F.1  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Commission” means the state environmental protection commission.
  2.  “Department” means the department of natural resources.
  3.  “Display area label” means the signage used by a retailer to mark a household hazardous material display area as prescribed by the department of natural resources.
  4.  “Household hazardous material” means a product used for residential purposes and designated by rule of the department of natural resources and may include any hazardous substance as defined in section 455B.411, subsection 2; and any hazardous waste as defined in section 455B.411, subsection 3; and shall include but is not limited to the following materials:  motor oils, motor oil filters, gasoline and diesel additives, degreasers, waxes, polishes, pure solvents, lacquers, thinners, caustic household cleaners, spot and stain remover with petroleum base, petroleum-based fertilizers, and paints with the exception of latex-based paints. However, “household hazardous material” does not include noncaustic household cleaners, laundry detergents or soaps, dishwashing compounds, chlorine bleach, personal care products, personal care soaps, cosmetics, and medications.
  5.  “Manufacturer” means a person who manufactures or produces a household hazardous material for resale in this state.
  6.  “Residential” means a permanent place of abode, which is a person’s home as opposed to a person’s place of business.
  7.  “Retailer” means a person offering for sale or selling a household hazardous material to the ultimate consumer, within the state.
  8.  “Wholesaler” or “distributor” means a person other than a manufacturer or manufacturer’s agent who engages in the business of selling or distributing a household hazardous material within the state, for the purpose of resale.
87 Acts, ch 225, §501; 97 Acts, ch 191, §1

  455F.2  Policy statement.
  It is the policy of this state to educate Iowans regarding the hazardous nature of certain household products, proper use of the products, and the proper methods of disposal of residual product and containers in order to protect the public health, safety, and the environment.
87 Acts, ch 225, §502
  455F.3  Repealed by 97 Acts, ch 191, §  4. 

  455F.4  Consumer information booklets.
  A retailer shall maintain and prominently display a booklet, developed by the department, in cooperation with manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailer associations and provided to retailers at departmental expense, which provides information regarding the proper use of household hazardous materials and specific instructions for the proper disposal of certain substance categories. The department shall also develop and provide to a retailer, at departmental expense, bulletins regarding household hazardous materials which provide information designated by rule of the commission. The retailer shall distribute the bulletins without charge to customers.
  A manufacturer or distributor of household hazardous materials who authorizes independent contractor retailers to sell the products of the manufacturer or distributor on a person-to-person basis primarily in the customer’s home, shall print informational lists of its products which are designated by the department as household hazardous materials. These lists of products and the consumer information booklets prepared in accordance with this section shall be provided by the manufacturer or distributor in sufficient quantities to each contractor retailer for dissemination to customers. During the course of a sale of a household hazardous material by a contractor retailer, the customer shall in the first instance be provided with a copy of both the list and the consumer information booklet. In subsequent sales to the same customer, the list and booklet shall be noted as being available if desired.
87 Acts, ch 225, §504

  455F.5  Duties of the commission.
  The commission shall:
  1.  Adopt rules which establish a uniform label to be supplied and used by retailers.
  2.  Adopt rules which designate the type and amount of information to be included in the consumer information booklets and bulletins.
87 Acts, ch 225, §505

  455F.6  Duties of the department.
  The department shall:
  1.  Designate products which are household hazardous materials and, based upon the designations and in consultation with manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailer associations, develop a household hazardous product list for the use of retailers in identifying the products.
  2.  Enforce the provisions of this chapter and implement the penalties established.
  3.  Identify, after consulting with departmental staff and the listing of other states, no more than fifty commonly used household products which, due to level of toxicity, extent of use, nondegradability, or other relevant characteristic, constitute the greatest danger of contamination of the groundwater when placed in a landfill. The department may identify additional products by rule.
87 Acts, ch 225, §506; 88 Acts, ch 1169, §14

  455F.7  Household hazardous materials permit.
  1.  A retailer offering for sale or selling a household hazardous material shall have a valid permit for each place of business owned or operated by the retailer for this activity. All permits provided for in this division shall expire on June 30 of each year. Every retailer shall submit an annual application by July 1 of each year and a fee of twenty-five dollars to the department of revenue for a permit upon a form prescribed by the director of revenue. Permits are nonrefundable, are based upon an annual operating period, and are not prorated. A person in violation of this section shall be subject to permit revocation upon notice and hearing. The department shall remit the fees collected to the household hazardous waste account of the groundwater protection fund. A person distributing general use pesticides labeled for agricultural or lawn and garden use with gross annual pesticide sales of less than ten thousand dollars is subject to the requirements and fee payment prescribed by this section.
  2.  A manufacturer or distributor of household hazardous materials, which authorizes retailers as independent contractors to sell the products of the manufacturer or distributor on a person-to-person basis primarily in the customer’s home, may obtain a single household hazardous materials permit on behalf of its authorized retailers in the state, in lieu of individual permits for each retailer, and pay a fee of twenty-five dollars. However, a manufacturer or distributor which has gross retail sales of three million dollars or more in the state shall pay an additional permit fee of one hundred dollars for each subsequent increment of three million dollars of gross retail sales in the state, up to a maximum permit fee of three thousand dollars.
87 Acts, ch 225, §507; 88 Acts, ch 1169, §15; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286

  455F.8  Household hazardous waste cleanup program created.
  The department shall conduct programs to collect and dispose of small amounts of hazardous wastes which are being stored in residences or on farms. The program shall be known as “toxic cleanup days”. The department shall promote and conduct the program and shall by contract with a qualified and bonded waste handling company, collect and properly dispose of wastes believed by the person disposing of the waste to be hazardous. The department shall establish maximum amounts of hazardous wastes to be accepted from a person during the toxic cleanup days program. Amounts accepted from a person above the maximum shall be limited by the department and may be subject to a fee set by the department, but the department shall not assess a fee for amounts accepted below the maximum amount. The department shall designate the times and dates for the collection of wastes. In order to achieve the maximum benefit from the program, the department shall offer toxic cleanup days on a statewide basis and provide at least one toxic cleanup day in each departmental region. Toxic cleanup days shall be offered in both rural and urban areas to provide a comparison of response levels and to test the viability of multicounty toxic cleanup days. The department shall prepare an annual report citing the results and costs of the program for submittal to the general assembly.
87 Acts, ch 225, §508; 90 Acts, ch 1255, §32

  455F.8A  Household hazardous material collection sites.
  1.  By January 1, 1991, the department shall complete an assessment of the needs of local governments for temporary collection sites for household hazardous materials. Upon completion of the assessment, the department shall design a model facility which would adequately serve the needs identified. During the design phase, the department shall also identify facility permit requirements.
  2.  a.  Following the completion of the assessment and design of the model facility, the department shall set a goal of establishing a three-year competitive grant program to assist in the development of five pilot household hazardous waste reduction and collection programs.
  b.  The grant program shall provide for the establishment of five pilot sites so that both rural and urban populations are served.
  c.  The department shall develop criteria to evaluate proposals for the establishment of sites. The criteria shall give priority to proposals for sites which provide the most efficient services and which provide local, public, and private contributions for establishment of the sites. The criteria shall also include a requirement that the recipient of a grant design and construct a facility sufficient for the collection, sorting, and packaging of materials prior to transportation of the materials to the final disposal site. Final review of design and construction of the proposed facilities shall be by the department.
  d.  The recipients of grants shall provide for collection of hazardous wastes from conditionally exempt small quantity generators in the area of the facility established. The facility shall require payment for collection from conditionally exempt small quantity generators if the amount of waste disposed is greater than ten pounds. Conditionally exempt small quantity generators which deliver their hazardous wastes to the site shall not be required to obtain a permit to transport the hazardous waste to the site.
  3.  A private agency which provides for the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste as part of an approved comprehensive plan pursuant to section 455B.306 shall be eligible for reimbursement moneys pursuant to section 455E.11, subsection 2, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), subparagraph division (e).
90 Acts, ch 1255, §33; 2005 Acts, ch 33, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263

  455F.8B  Local government education programs.
  A recipient of a household hazardous waste reduction and collection program grant shall do all of the following:
  1.  Identify a regional or local agency to coordinate a public education effort, and provide for staff to implement the education program.
  2.  Establish a community education effort to be integrated within the existing educational system regarding household hazardous waste reduction and recycling.
  3.  Develop a plan for the recycling of hazardous substances not minimized by the public. The plan shall optimize resource use while minimizing waste and shall include a formal arrangement for the exchange of materials at no cost to the participants and an arrangement for the acceptance by the department of administrative services or the local or regional government agency of hazardous materials useful in its operations.
90 Acts, ch 1255, §34; 97 Acts, ch 191, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286

  455F.9  Education program.
  In addition to the toxic cleanup days program, the department shall implement a public information and education program regarding the use and disposal of household hazardous materials. The program shall provide appropriate information concerning the reduction in use of the materials, including the purchase of smaller quantities, selection of alternative products, and hazards associated with the use of unregistered and unregulated alternative products. The department shall cooperate with existing educational institutions, the household product industry, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, and other agencies of government and shall enlist the support of service organizations, whenever possible, in promoting and conducting the programs in order to effectuate the household hazardous materials policy of the state.
87 Acts, ch 225, §509; 97 Acts, ch 191, §3

  455F.10  Penalty.
  Any person violating a provision of this chapter or a rule adopted pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
87 Acts, ch 225, §510

  455F.11  Recycling and reclamation programs.
  Up to eighty thousand dollars of the moneys deposited in the household hazardous waste account shall be allocated to the department of natural resources for city, county, or service organization projects relative to recycling and reclamation events. A city, county, or service organization shall submit a competitive grant to the department of natural resources by April 1 for approval by the department no later than May 15.
87 Acts, ch 225, §512