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Disposal of Hazardous Household Products
Answers to questions about disposal of hazardous household products.
Can I pour unwanted liquid products such as cleaners and paint down the drain?
Can I dry out old paint cans and put them in the trash?
My old pesticide says “wrap in newspaper and dispose in trash.” Can that really be correct?
What should I do with empty containers that held hazardous products?
Where can I recycle batteries, antifreeze, motor oil, etc.?
How can I dispose of my household hazardous products, such as pesticides, oil-based paints, and fluorescent light bulbs?
Many cities and counties offer collection sites for household hazardous waste. To locate a collection site near you, click here. Different sites may collect different items, so it’s a good idea to get a list of items accepted at your local site before you go. Also ask for information on how to dispose of any items you have that are not accepted. If you aren’t able to find a collection site, contact your local solid waste department for help.
Can I pour unwanted liquid products such as cleaners and paint down the drain?
Most cleaning products are water-based and can be disposed down the sink or toilet in small quantities. However, it is best to use up unwanted products or give them to someone who can use them. (Cleaners that are solvent-based and should not be poured down the drain include some furniture polishes, dry-cleaning fluids or spot removers, and some metal polishes. These products will be labeled: “DANGER. Harmful or fatal if swallowed.”) Other hazardous liquids – including but not limited to pesticides, oil-based paints and stains, hobby chemicals, and automotive products – should not go down the drain or storm drain. Used latex paintbrushes and rollers can be rinsed in the sink after being painted as dry as possible, but large amounts of latex paint should not be poured down the drain. (See below for information on disposing of latex paint.)
Never dump liquid products in the trash. Empty containers can usually be thrown away. Disposal instructions may vary with location; click here for information about disposal of household hazardous waste in your community.
Can I dry out old paint cans and put them in the trash?
Leftover cans of latex (water-based) paint can be dried down and placed into the trash. In some municipalities, lids must be left off for dried cans to be collected. The more paint that is left, the more time it will take to dry; you can speed up the process by adding cat litter to the can. If you have too much to dry, give it away to someone who can use it, or contact your local household hazardous waste collection site to see if they can accept it.
Oil-based paints and stains contain hazardous solvents, and should not be dried. Dispose of them at your local hazardous waste collection site. Empty cans can be thrown away. Click here for information about disposal of household hazardous waste in your community.
To avoid excess leftovers, try to buy only the amount of paint that you need (paint calculators are available here) and use it up, and give away leftovers. Choose latex (water-based) paints and stains instead of oil-based, and always provide plenty of ventilation while painting. To learn more about the hazards associated with paints and wood preservatives, see our fact sheet, Paints and Wood Preservatives: Protecting Your Wood and Your Health (36kb PDF file).
My old pesticide says “wrap in newspaper and dispose in trash.” Can that really be correct?
This was recommended in the past, but EPA policy has changed and labels no longer suggest it. Take full or partially full containers of pesticides to your local collection site (collection sites for pesticides are available in every county in the United States). Empty containers should be thrown away. Click here for information about disposal of hazardous waste in your community.
If you have old pesticides that have been banned for consumer use, take them to a collection site instead of using them up. These banned pesticides are 2,4,5-T, aldrin, chlordane, creosote, DDT, dieldrin, kepone, lead arsenate, lindane (a few uses remain, such as lice shampoo), mirex, pentachlorophenol (“penta,”) silvex, and toxaphene. Two pesticides that have recently been banned for consumer use are chlorpyrifos (Dursban) and diazinon (not sold as of early 2002 and early 2005 respectively): leftovers can still be legally used, but we recommend that you take them to a collection site.
What should I do with empty containers that held hazardous products?
In most cases, throw them away. Check with your local hazardous waste collection program if you have a container with significant residue that is hard to remove: it may not belong in the trash. If you have empty gasoline, propane, or helium tanks, contact your local hazardous waste collection program or solid waste department for disposal information. These items can sometimes be recycled.
Empty spray cans of paint, hairspray, etc. can also be thrown away. If they aren’t empty, use them up or take them to your local household hazardous waste collection site. See above for information on disposing of paint cans.
What can I do with unwanted electronic items such as televisions, computers, printers, and cell phones?
These items should be recycled. If you reside in King, Pierce, or Snohomish Counties, you can locate recycling locations via the Take It Back Network.
To locate additional recycling locations in Washington and throughout the country, click here.
Consider donating working items to charities (before dropping items off, be sure to contact them to see what they are accepting). Also, check with the manufacturer of the product: some manufacturers offer their own take-back programs.
Where can I recycle batteries, antifreeze, motor oil, etc.?
Used rechargeable batteries (such as Ni-Cad and NiMH) can be recycled at many stores that sell electronics, as well as private recyclers. To locate a drop-off location near you, search the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation’s website. Regulations on disposal of other batteries (such as alkaline and button batteries) vary in different regions. Contact your local solid or hazardous waste department for more information.
Used antifreeze and motor oil can be recycled at auto stores such as Jiffy Lube and Schuck’s. Contact stores beforehand to check on quantity limitations and other guidelines. Household hazardous waste collection programs sometimes accept these and other automotive products.
Here are some resources for more information on recycling various items:
