How to dispose of household hazardous waste

The average household stores about 10 gallons of common hazardous waste.  Please read the labels; if you see the words, "caution," "hazardous," "danger," "flammable," or "poison," you need to use extreme care when you're ready to dispose of them. 

Improperly discarded household hazardous waste can pollute our environment by poisoning the sewer and septic systems, drinking water, ground water, and the earth.  This waste also poses a threat to sanitation workers because the products can ignite or explode in the garbage trucks. Below is a list of common household hazardous waste products:

• brake fluids                                                                    

• bug sprays

• charcoal lighter fluids

• drain clog dissolvers

• disinfectants

• driveway sealers

• fertilizers

• gasoline

• hazardous waste

• home heating oil (more than 10 gallons)

• insecticides

• kerosene

• lawn chemicals

• mercury thermometers

• metal polishes

• mothballs

• motor oil and filters, (more than 10 gallons)

• muriatic acid (concrete cleaner)

• nail polishes and removers

• oral thermometers

• oven cleaners

• pesticides

• pool chemicals

• household paints

• rat poisons

• rug cleaners

• shoe polishes

• stains (oil-based)

• turpentine

• weed killers

• upholstery cleaners

• window cleaners (ammonia)

• windshield wiper fluids

• spray paint

• solvents

• chemicals

• linseed oil

• mercury

• White Out

• correcting fluid

• correcting tape

• typewriter opaquing film

• de-icer

• lock de-icer

• projector bulbs

• marine paint

• boat paint

• rubbing alcohol

• lamp oil

• home heating oil sludge

• instant ice packs

• tung oil

• flea spray

• roof cement

• butane lighter fluid

• ferric chloride

• lighter fluid

• cologne

• perfume

• ant bait

• artist oil paints

• multi-vapor metal halide bulbs

• paint thinner

• paint stripper

• paint remover