By Megan Boatwright, Local News 8 Reporter

Are you like many of us? Holding on to that old T.V. or computer? Maybe you have cans of old paint you don't know how to get rid of. We all know we have to properly dispose of them, but what is the best way?

Other than the smell, visiting the Central Transfer Station in Blackfoot is a pretty easy experience for Samantha Hale.

"I have a CPU, an old fashioned monitor," she says while unloading her trunk. "You know those big boxy monitors that only see in green."

Hale is finally getting rid of some old junk. "I've been lugging it around for a while, not really sure what to do with it," she said. "Then found out they can go in the landfill."

Having lived in Illinois for six years the realization came as a surprise to Hale.

"In Illinois you don't throw any electronics away, anything with mercury or lead. There are special days for stuff like this," she said. "Collections days are a big deal back east. They always happen once a month, but I haven't really heard of any here."

Hale stumbled on a problem Bonneville County HAZ-MAT Captain John Lund has been painfully aware of for years. "When I first got into this career I saw many instances where fire fighters are exposed to hazardous materials," he said.

Anytime the HAZ-MAT team responds to a situation with toxic chemicals they have to wear suits reminiscent to the pictures seen in Fahrenheit 451.

"We have lots of people that work with chemicals and work as scientists in our community," Lund said. "For whatever reason those chemicals and poisons end up in our homes."

In his career Lund has seen too many home accidents involving toxic chemicals like: pesticides, solvents, antifreeze, paint, paint thinners, gas etc.

"Every year we have garbage truck fires," Lund said. "There may be cylinders under pressure in the trucks. Chemicals that shouldn't mix are thrown together. It's unpredictable."

In the state of Idaho it's not illegal for even the most hazardous household materials to end up in landfills. The state only requires landfills to meet minimal federal and EPA standards, which means the burden lies with our local governments to be proactive. Some counties may have more stringent regulations and refuse certain types of waste. If that's the case, and there are no other community collection events, waste will more than likely accumulate in homes.

So why aren't communities more proactive? From a county perspective disposing of household waste in the landfill isn't illegal and getting recycling programs off the ground is expensive.

"Bonneville County has a small recycling program," said Bonneville County Solid Waste Supervisor, Blair Hillam. "We'd like to expand but with that comes expense."

In 2007-2008, Bonneville County in conjunction with the DEQ and the cities of Ammon and Idaho Falls, started taking more proactive steps through one day Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events.

In 2009 Bonneville County took over the program, turning it into a summer event. Bannock County operates a similar program through the summer as well. The Jefferson County landfill did participate in Bonneville County's event, but they don't have anything regular. The landfill in Jefferson County does not take certain chemicals. The landfill in St. Anthony recycles aluminum, metal, antifreeze, oil, computers and office equipment; however, like Jefferson County, there are certain chemicals it won't accept.

So what is the solution? In the state of Idaho there seems to be no easy answer.

"It seems like the eastern states are a lot more aware and have taken proactive steps but the west is still so rugged," Lund said. "Idaho is a beautiful place so we don't think we're doing harm."

Although she's glad to be rid of her junk, Hale knows it's not the best solution.

"Put it in the landfill just feels wrong somehow," she said.

In 2008 Bonneville County collected more than 100,000 pounds of toxic waste. Bonneville is one of the few counties in Eastern Idaho to have a protective liner underneath its landfill. In theory the liner should keep chemicals from getting in the soil. Ada County has one as well. Bannock County is also in the process of installing a liner under its landfill.

If you feel your community should take a more proactive approach to waste management, the Department of Environmental Quality urges you to write to your local and state elected officials.