When we were asked this question on a recent radio show, one of us admitted to using the storm drain system or the backyard planter for this kind of disposal, but we both have. After taking several more calls on the subject, we decided to be more careful with hazardous waste. We also promised to find the answer. Especially since, while working in the garden recently, we had to defend ourselves against a six-foot-tall greenish-gray mutated-looking thing, with the head of a fish and the body of a squirrel. The creature, what ever it was, looked really mad!

Our combined experience in construction is more than 38 years and, until the question was posed that afternoon, we had never really considered the impact small amounts of paint and paint thinner (and other materials) might have on the ground and the environment in general.

Public storm drains generally feed directly into streams, lakes, rivers and oceans. Thinners and pesticides not only are harmful to marine and plant life, but may be brought back to us by way of our drinking water and food supply as well. The principal applies even when considering the small amounts we refer to here. When poured onto the ground, these substances still have the potential to make their way back into our food and water systems underground.

Our efforts to find alternatives were a disappointment. We contacted several agencies, including the EPA in Washington D.C., and San Francisco; the national and California offices of The Federal Chemical Referral Center; the county Health Dept.; major waste disposal sites; and several fire departments. Interestingly, the folks at these agencies tended to recommend each other.

Eventually we found local sites for disposal. California has several state-funded resources on toxic wastes, and other states do too. Call your state EPA first - you may have better luck than we did. Then try your local fire department. One of those two should provide the answer or someone to call for more information.