What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?
How can I manage and reduce HHW?
What types of HHW do you accept at collection events?
What products, items or materials are NOT ACCEPTED at HHW collection events?
Is latex paint considered a HHW?
How much does it cost to dispose of HHW?
What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?
Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW) are wastes produced in our households that are hazardous in nature, but are not regulated as hazardous waste under federal and state laws. HHW is that portion of a household product that is no longer usable, leftover, or unwanted and has to be disposed of. You can identify a product as hazardous by words such as CAUTION, WARNING, POISON, or FLAMMABLE on the label.
Each person in Pennsylvania produces an average of four pounds of HHW each year for a total of about 25,000 tons/yr. statewide. If carelessly managed, these consumer waste products can create environmental and public health hazards.
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How can I manage and reduce HHW?
The best methods of managing Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) are prevention and minimization. Select the least toxic item/items required for any project or task, and buy only the minimum amounts necessary. A large quantity is bad for the environment and your budget if a portion of it ultimately needs to be discarded.
If the material is still usable (e.g., undamaged, still within designated shelf life), check with friends and neighbors to see if they can use it. Community groups such as Little League, Habitat for Humanity, etc. may also be able to use the materials.
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What types of HHW do you accept at collection events?
We accept nearly every chemical product found in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage, garden shed, or workshop.
These include:
- aerosol cans
- automotive fluids (e.g., motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, kerosene, brake fluid)
- batteries
- chemistry sets
- compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) (Bulbs only- we do not accept fluorescent tubes)
- gasoline and kerosene
- household cleaners (ammonia, drain openers, acid cleaners, oven cleaners)
- mercury thermometers/mercury
- paint products (latex, oil based, alkyd based, arts/crafts chemicals, rust preservatives, creosote, water sealers, paint thinners, furniture strippers)
- pesticides/garden (rodent killers, insecticides, weed killers, mothballs, fertilizer)
- photo chemicals
- pool chemicals
Please note that we cannot accept any of these items in leaky containers!
Tip: To avoid spills and damage to your vehicle, never put leaky containers into your car!
- If possible, transfer materials to a new container.
- Preserve the label and place in a zippered plastic bag to keep with replacement container.
- If you can’t transfer the material, you can isolate the leaky item by placing it in a zippered plastic bag, plastic bucket, etc
If you have questions about specific products, please call the HHW hotline at (412) 488-7452.
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What products, items or materials are NOT ACCEPTED at HHW collection events?
We DO NOT ACCEPT the following:
- ammunition
- appliances
- bulk waste
- commercial and industrial waste
- compressed gas cylinders (including propane tanks)
- explosives
- flares
- fluorescent tubes
- leaking containers
- medical waste (including needles and sharps)
- prescription or non-prescription drugs
- PCBs and dioxin
- radioactive materials (including smoke detectors)
- tires
For information on how to properly recycle or dispose of items we cannot accept, please refer to our "Recycling & Disposal Resources Guide”
If you have questions about specific products, please call the HHW hotline at (412) 488-7452.
You can also contact your local County Recycling Coordinator for further information about recycling or disposal.
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Is latex paint considered a HHW?
Latex paint is not a hazardous waste, but paints — both latex and oil-based — can pollute groundwater, so never throw liquid paint products into your trash.
Since latex paint is not hazardous, it can be disposed of with your regular municipal waste if you use the following procedure:
- Pour the paint into an absorbent material such as shredded newspaper or kitty litter
- Allow it to completely dry
- Dispose of the dried paint in the trash.
Oil-based paint, stains and varnishes are hazardous and should be taken to a waste collection event.
For additional information, please visit our What is HHW? page.
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How much does it cost to dispose of HHW?
The price for disposal of HHW is $2.00 per gallon. We do our best to fairly determine the volume of waste that you bring to our events, but this is by no means an exact science!
Please remember that the $2.00 charge is nominal, and simply helps to subsidize our costs; it does not cover them. We are a non-profit organization providing a valuable community service to Southwestern PA. |