What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous Waste poses a potential risk to human health or safety, either directly or through interaction with other factors. 

Labels are one way to determine if a substance is potentially hazardous.
These SIGNAL WORDS are always capitalized on the front label and have specific legal definitions based on their potential toxic short-term human health effects: 
  • CAUTION
  • WARNING
  • DANGER
  • DANGER-POISON (w skull & crossbones)​​​
These warning words indicate dangers based on their chemical properties and may accompany SIGNAL WORDS.
  • Hazard
  • Poisonous
  • Reactive
  • Corrosive
  • Flammable

Common Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW)

​Bring to a Hazardous Waste Collection or Eco Depot
Empty containers belong in your regular trash.
Common household chemicals can be dangerous to human health and the environment. 
  • Adhesives/tar
  • Automotive fluids: antifreeze, ​brake & transmission fluid, etc.
  • Aerosols
  • Broken mercury devices: fluorescent bulbs, switches, thermostats, etc.
  • Chemical cleaners: normal cleaning chemicals, bleach, ammonia, corrosives, etc.​
  • Drain openers, oven cleaners, floor wax
  • Fertilizers​​
  • Fuels/flammables: gas, kerosene, oil
  • Mothballs
  • Paint thinners
  • Paint with unreadable labels (keep good labels on house paint for free disposal at the ARCC )
  • Pesticides: fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides
  • ​Solvents​​
  • ​Tub &  tile cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners

Hazardous but NOT for HHW Collection Events               
​​* = accepted at our Facility​

  • Ammunition
  • Asbestos
  • *Batteries
  • Dioxins (PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs)
  • *Electronic Equipment/Devices
  • Explosives or Shock-Sensitive Materials
  • *Gas Cylinders
  • Infectious/Pathological Waste
  • ​*Intact: Fluorescent bulbs & tubes, Other Mercury devices
  • Medicines
  • Radioactive Wastes (*smoke detectors)
  • Tires
  • *TVs
Storing/Transporting Hazardous Materials

Safe storage and transport of hazardous products is vital to keeping your home and family safe.
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets 
  • Store away from living spaces
  • Securely seal lids
  • Keep in original, labeled container
  • Store away from extreme temperatures
  • Store where will not flood
  • If container is compromised, place the whole container into secondary containment, like a bucket or bin, seal with tight lid and label