Hazardous household product recycling and disposal guide
- Never dump hazardous materials down the drain, sink, or toilet.
- Never put hazardous materials in the trash.
Take accepted items to a household hazardous waste site or recycling program listed below.
Unsure if a product is hazardous? See our tips to spot common hazardous household products.
Recycling and disposal programs
Here is our guide to recycling and disposal programs for hazardous household products. Most are free, with some exceptions. Call your local disposal site to see if there are restrictions or fees.
| Product | Where to take it |
|---|---|
| Batteries Confirm the drop-off location accepts your battery type |
Battery Network or a household hazardous waste site |
| Drugs, medications, pharmaceuticals Prescription and non-prescription drugs, medicines, medications |
Safe Medication Return (free mail-in or drop-off) |
| Electronics Used computer monitors, TVs, or other appliances |
E-Cycle Washington |
| Hazardous household products See the list of items accepted at your local site |
Household hazardous waste sites |
| Lights Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), fluorescent tubes, and high-intensity discharge (HIDs) |
LightRecycle Washington |
| Paint Latex, acrylic, water-based, alkyd, oil-based |
PaintCare (free drop-off sites) |
| Recyclable (non-hazardous) household products | 1-800-RECYCLE |
How can you reduce toxic chemicals at home?
You may assume that you as an individual can't have much impact, but the more individuals that take small steps, the greater the impact. Learn more about how to:
- Shop for safer consumer products to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals, which in turn leads to a reduction in chemicals entering the environment.
- Improve the health of your home with cleaning tips and DIY recipe cards.
Are you a business owner?
Businesses can improve their impact on the environment too:
- Shop for safer products for your business
- Participate in a product replacement program to receive financial reimbursement for switching to certain safer products.
- Get pollution prevention technical assistance to help your business run more efficiently and produce less hazardous waste.