Safely Dispose of Household Waste Guide

By: City of Hampton

You’re spring cleaning and ready to toss out the halffilled paint cans, old florescent bulbs and used motor oil. Look at you tidying up! But do you
know how to properly dispose of these and other leftover household hazardous waste (HHW)
products? To point Hampton Roads residents in the right direction, askHRgreen.org publishes a
listing of local HHW resources and collection events on their website at
www.askhrgreen.org/hhw.
“These products don’t belong in the trash, recycling bin or down the toilet. Nor should
they be released into yards, waterways and storm drains, where they can harm our beautiful
coastal environment,” said Katie Cullipher with asKHRgreen.org. “Take any household
hazardous waste products to your community’s HHW facility, where they will be disposed of
properly and at no cost to you.”
The Environmental Protection Agency defines HHW as leftover household chemicals
that can catch fire, react and explode, or that are corrosive or toxic. Common HHW includes
products used for house cleaning, pest removal, automotive care, lawn and garden upkeep,
home projects, along with lithium batteries, flammable liquids and products containing mercury
such as thermometers, thermostats and light bulbs.
In addition to knowing how to safely dispose of such toxic products, it’s also important to
be a smart consumer when purchasing and to know how and where to store them. Cullipher
offers these tips:
 When buying products, read the labels and select non-hazardous or less-hazardous
components that do the same job.
 Buy and use only the amount needed for your project. Leftovers can be shared or
donated.
 Keep all products in their original containers, labeled and sealed.
 Store them away from the elements in a secured, preferably locked area.
Residents can also be on the lookout for HHW collection events in their community, and
by checking for events listed at www.askHRgreen.org/events.