Household Hazardous Waste
Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" or "HHW." Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, which contain potentially hazardous ingredients, require special care when you dispose of them. Clean Air Council works through public education to reduce the amount of HHW in the municipal solid waste stream, protecting the environment and public from dangerous pollution.
Common hazardous waste materials include:
- Painting materials: solvent-based paints and stains, paint thinner, varnish, paint stripper, paint brush cleaners, artists' paints
- Household chemicals: pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides), chemical fertilizers, bathroom and tile cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaners, drain cleaners
- Household Items: grill-type propane cylinders (up to 20lbs), fires extinguishers, aerosol cans, photographic chemicals, lead products (including solder and fishing weights), mothballs, and stain and spot removers
- Automotive Items: used motor oil, antifreeze, lead-acid batteries, auto body repair products, brake fluid, degreasers, old gasoline, mercury and asbestos
- Batteries: rechargeable computer and cell phone batteries, button cell batteries used in watches, hearing aids, and calculators
What is not hazardous waste?
- Latex paint
- Household batteries size D, C, AA, AAA and 9 volt. (Non-rechargeable batteries are not household waste but can still leach toxins into landfills. To avoid this, place batteries in sturdy plastic bag before disposal).
