Hazardous Materials

What Can I Bring To The HHW Event?

Click here to view the list of items that will and will not be accepted at the annual Household Hazardous Waste  event located at 1320 West Main Street.

What Are Hazardous Wastes?

Many products used in the home, garden, garage and hobby shop contain hazardous ingredients and need to be used and stored safely. Once you decide to discard these products, they become household hazardous wastes requiring proper disposal. Household hazard wastes can be described as discarded solid or liquid materials or containers holding gases, which may cause an adverse, harmful or damaging biological effect in an organism or to the environment unless given special handling and treatment.

Hazardous wastes usually account for a small portion of the waste stream, but can contaminate our water and soil if disposed of improperly. That's why hazardous waste should not be disposed of with regular garbage or poured into the sewers.

A substance is considered hazardous if it can catch fire, if it can react or explode when mixed with other substances, if it is corrosive, or if it is toxic. This definition includes many things that you probably are storing right now in your garage, basement, bathroom or kitchen. Some, like paint thinner or car batteries, are pretty obvious, but there are many that you might not ordinarily think of such as polishes, insecticides and glues.

What Type Of Products Might Have Hazardous Characteristics?

• Examples of flammable products include many solvent-based materials such as varnish strippers and driveway sealants. Some products will even spontaneously combust if improperly stored.
• Household items that may be corrosive include acidic or caustic cleaners such as toilet bowl cleaner, oven cleaner and drain opener, as well as batteries, especially car batteries.
• Reactive type chemicals can include strong peroxides, ammonia, chlorine-based products and mothballs.
• Toxic materials include anti-freeze, pesticides and windshield washer fluid.