Household Hazardous Waste

Many products that we use in our homes every day contain hazardous chemicals. Household cleaners, lawn care products, automotive care products, and art & hobby supplies can contain potentially harmful chemicals. It's important to use, store, and dispose of these items properly, to minimize the harmful affects to you, your family, and the environment.

How do I identify household hazards?

• Read the labels. Manufacturers will use signal words such as CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, FLAMMABLE, COMBUSTIBLE, POISON, or CORROSIVE. The products will also have important information on the label with amounts to use, storage requirements, and disposal information. Give special attention to:
  • Household cleaners: ammonia, bleach, spot/mildew remover, disinfecting cleaner, drain cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, rust remover, oven cleaner, floor wax, furniture polish, silver/metal polish, shoe polish, rug/upholstery cleaner, mothballs.
  • Lawn care products: weed killer, weed & feed, herbicides, lawn insect killer, garden fungicides.
  • Miscellaneous products: batteries (dry cell A,AA,AAA,C,D,9V-and rechargable Ni-Cad, lithium), fluorescent bulbs/tubes, propane tanks, chemistry sets, photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, old thermometers containing mercury, flying insect killer, ant/roach killer, unused no-pest strips, rat poison, slug bait, flea killer-powder and spray/fogger, lice shampoo with Lindane.
  • Automotive supplies: used motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, car batteries, brake fluid, transmission fluid, degreasers and carburetor cleaner, mercury containing thermostats and switches, gasoline/diesel.
  • Paints/Wood preservatives: latex paint, oil-based paint, varnish, stain, paint thinner, paint stripper, solvents, glues, wood preservative.
  • BANNED-RESTRICTED chemicals: DDT, Lindane, Silvex, ALdrin, Chlordane, Pentachlorophenol, Toxaphene. DO NOT use these products. Take them to the Household Hazardous Waste facility.

How do I safely manage and dispose of household hazards?

• Never pour any unused product down the drain, or flush it down the toilet. Sewer and septic systems are designed to handle food waste and human sewage, but not hazardous chemicals. Storm drains and drainage ditches lead directly to streams and watersheds, and household chemicals disposed of improperly have resulted in water quality issues for humans and aquatic life.
• Keep products in their original containers. Store hazardous products where children and pets cannot reach them. Make sure the lids and caps are securely in place. Store corrosive, flammable, reactive, and poisonous products as directed on the label.
• Transport items for disposal to our Household Hazardous Waste facility in a sturdy, leak-proof container, preferably in the trunk of your vehicle. Pack items so they won't tip or spill during transport. Don't tape fluorescent tubes together, but pack to prevent breakage during transport.

What can I do to reduce my family's exposure?

• Choose safer cleaning products. Many 'convenience' cleaners have safer alternatives. Plain water, baking soda, vinegar are alternatives to harsher chemical cleaners. Visit the Washington Toxics Coalition website for information on alternatives to using toxic chemicals.
• Use less, use it up, give it up. Unless you have child-proof storage, you don't want these products lingering around your home for very long. Use less- buy only the amount necessary; use only the amounts recommended; don't store extra toxics in your home! Use it up- according to label directions. Remember to follow all instructions for safe storage. Give it up- if you have too much to use in a timely manner, or don't need the item anymore- RECYCLE IT- let a neighbor, friend or other family member use it up, or bring your unused household hazards to the HHW.
• Get Smart! Consumers can make a difference in protecting the environment. Websites such as the Dept. of Ecology Hazardous Substance Information & Education Office can provide you with information to make smart choices in purchasing and using household chemicals. You'll also learn ways to be involved in your community to make it safer for you and your neighborhood.

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