How to Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household waste is considered hazardous if it has “corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients.” That is a rather broad definition. Just about everyone has some sort of material in their homes that would fit some part of that description. So what do you do with it all? How can you get rid of it without creating an environmental hazard? First of all, here is what you don’t do:

* Don’t throw hazardous household waste (HHW) in the trash
* Don’t pour it down the sink, bathtub, or toilet drain
* Don’t pour it outside on the ground
* Don’t bury it
* Don’t burn it
* Don’t dump it in the sewer or storm drain

Here are some ways you can dispose of hazardous household waste (HHW) safely.

1. Call your local solid waste authority. If you have your garbage picked up, then you have someone to call. Ask them if they ever pick up HHW, and if so, when. Many waste management departments have certain days where HHW can be picked up. Check the web, too, to see if your local authorities post HHW collection days and times.

2. Return unused medication to the pharmacy or drug store where you purchased it. Some pharmacies have a drug recycling program in place. For unused over-the-counter drugs, contact the store where you purchased them to see what their policy is regarding disposal.

3. Recycle where you can. Contact your local recycling depot and see what their policy is regarding HHWs.

4. Find out if there is a local agency that collects HHW year-round.

5. Check with local businesses to see if they will accept HHWs associated with their business. For example, check with local mechanic shops and garages and see if they will accept used motor oil, car batteries, etc. Another example is leftover household paint. There are second-hand stores that will accept leftover paint.

6. Pay attention to labels. Household cleaning products, aerosol sprays, and other chemicals have notations on their labels about proper disposal.

7. Keep HHWs out of reach and sealed tightly while you are waiting for the next collection day, or before you get a chance to take the HHWs to the appropriate facility.

8. Do not mix your leftover cleaning products or other HHWs. Don’t pour your leftover window cleaner into the almost-empty bleach container, for example.

9. Be careful when you transport these hazardous chemicals. Make sure they are tightly sealed and securely held in place in your vehicle while you drive them to the facility.

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