Home > Hazardous Waste Recycling/Disposal
Hazardous Waste Symbol Picture by Francisco Javier Argel at https://www.flickr.com/photos/totoro_zine/2062522813/

Hazardous Waste Warning

LessIsMore.org works best in modern browsers like Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Internet Explorer 8. All are free to download and will greatly improve your internet experience. Wastes in this section are dangerous to you and the environment. Handle them carefully and dispose of them properly. Legally, households may not transport more than 15 gallons of wet or 125 pounds of dry hazardous materials. Read about the regulation.

Click below to watch our hazardous waste video:

What are Hazardous Wastes?

Hazardous Wastes are materials that are either flammable, corrosive, highly reactive or poisonous. As such, they should not be put in the trash. Many chemicals used around the home, in our cars, and in manufacturing are hazardous. Expand the list below for specific examples and links to more information.

Electronics also pose a hazard when not disposed of properly. E-waste should never go into the trash or recycling and must be disposed of at specific e-waste collection facilities. Visit our E-waste page for all the details. 

Where can I bring my hazardous waste?

Not all hazardous waste facilities are the same. Some are free to only residents of certain areas, some accept different materials, and most have different hours of operation.

All local hazardous waste collection centers are listed in the “Where to Go” section at the bottom of each material page, but we’ve also included them here (click a specific region to expand the list):

Who can use hazardous waste collection facilities and events?

Hazardous Waste facilities and one-day collection events are designed for residents and small businesses. Businesses should review our Businesses with Hazardous Waste page for more details.

Each event and facility is different, so please review the information carefully. Contact the event or facility operator if you have questions.

Do not bring explosives, biohazards, radioactive materials, needles, or controlled substances to hazardous waste collection sites or events unless specified.

How should I transport my material?

Please make sure that all of your waste is securely contained in your vehicle. Each container should have a properly fitting lid and must be no larger than 5 gallons. Also, it’s best to double-contain your material in cardboard boxes or plastic bins.

Each collection center has its own acceptance limits, so please call ahead to see how much waste you can transport at one time. Residents should never carry more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste in their vehicle at a time. Customers that are carrying more than what can be accepted at a specific location may be turned away.

CHWCC Improper Load Red X2

This is a great example of what NOT to do. Transporting waste unsecured and in improper containers puts both yourself and the community at risk.

Paint Spill In Car

Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Washington State Patrol, Russ Winger

What if I have too much hazardous waste to transport and need it picked up?

If you have a large amount of hazardous waste and need onsite collection service, please visit our Hazardous Waste Haulers page or download the list of haulers here.

Where are the County-run Hazardous Waste Centers?

A complete list of County-run facilities, including the Community Hazardous Waste Collection Center, can be found on our County Facilities Page.  Also check out our latest Hazardous Waste Program Annual Report.

 

Complete List of Pages in Hazardous Waste

Every page in the Hazardous Waste section is listed below. Either look through it to find what you are looking for or use the search bar.

Related Events

Related Articles