How to Dispose of Household Chemicals Properly
- 1). Find out where you can dispose of chemicals. Often in some larger communities, there are special events held several times a year where residents can drop off any of the allowed household chemicals. Sometimes the city or town sponsored this so you can contact them directly to ask. Usually it is advertised in the local paper. There may also be dedicated collection centers that accept household chemicals anytime. The best place to find these collection sites is in the yellow pages or on the Internet.
- 2
Common household chemicals
Go through your house and garage and collect allowed chemicals. Items that are allowed at collection sites include: household products (oil and latex paints, paint thinners, glues, etc.); lawn and garden products (weed killers, swimming pool chemicals, fertilizers, etc.); automotive products (gasoline, batteries, fuel additives, brake fluid, etc.); large quantities of fats, oils and grease (FOG) from cooking or frying. Small amounts of FOG (under 5 gallons) can be bagged and placed into the trash. - 3). The following items are not allowed at residential collection sites: asbestos, garbage, medical waste, smoke alarms, compressed gas containers, and various other unknown items.
- 4). In order to transport the chemicals to the collection site, keep the chemicals in their original container with the lids secured tightly. Put the chemicals into a cardboard box for easy carrying.
- 5
Worker collects household chemicals
Once you are at the collection site, usually someone will come out to meet you. They will show you where the unloading area is. Stay in your car unless they ask you to open the trunk from the outside. The chemicals in your trunk will be examined to make sure they can be accepted. After the chemicals have been removed by the collection site staff, you can then be on your way and feeling good about properly disposing of household chemicals.
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