Did you know the average US household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste (HHW) a year with as much as 100 pounds accumulating in the home? Hazardous waste is a form of waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on our health or the environment. It is waste that can catch fire, react or explode under certain circumstances or that is corrosive or toxic. Many of us have HHW in our homes and don’t know how to manage it. Proper and safe disposal of HHW is not only important for our environment, but also for our own health and safety.
HHW are types of products that may contain hazardous materials making them toxic, flammable and/or explosive under certain circumstances. These products require special care when you dispose of them. Products with potentially harmful chemicals can be identified by warnings on the label or packaging. Here are just a few common examples:
Drain openers
Oven cleaners
Metal cleaners and polishers
Automotive oil and fuel additives
Grease and rust solvents
Air conditioning refrigerants
Starter fluids
Paint, paint strippers, thinners and removers
Adhesives
Herbicides
Insecticides
Pesticides
Fungicides and wood preservatives
Batteries
Contact your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency to learn about permanent or periodic HHW collections near you. Some municipalities host HHW cleanups on a regular basis.
Search for “household hazardous waste” near your zip code using your favorite search engine. This will help you find HHW locations in your area.
Some of your HHW can be recycled. To find a location near you, the Earth 911 website allows you to search by type of material needing to be recycled and your location.