El Monte

Assemblywoman Sally Tanner (D-El Monte) has introduced legislation in Sacramento requiring schools to teach students about the dangers of hazardous substances and requiring the state to establish centers to collect hazardous household trash. Tanner said her bill also would establish an advisory council to guide the state on management of toxic household substances, require manufacturers to include disposal information in labels on hazardous products and order the state Department of Health Services to establish a toll-free telephone number to provide consumer information on toxic materials.

Tanner, who heads the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, said cleaning agents, paints, pesticides and many other products in household use are hazardous and can contaminate soil and water if dumped in a backyard, poured down a drain or tossed into trash cans for collection with ordinary rubbish.