Toxic substances, not limited to old paint, batteries, or pesticides, can cause fires in garbage trucks/facilities or contaminate groundwater. Household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities prevent these toxic substances from entering the regular waste system.
How it works
After you arrive, technicians will perform a waste characterization. They will evaluate any labels on the container and gather information from you about the substance. If the technicians are not confident about what it is, they will perform tests to determine how to properly handle the substance.
NOTE: It is not uncommon for HHW facilities to struggle with or even refuse unlabeled containers because of how expensive characterization can be. Never strip the label from the original container. If the chemical was moved to a new container, a handwritten label with the chemical name is better than nothing. Unknown chemicals can be rejected or incur additional fees depending on the municipality.
Important Tip
With regard to dangerous chemicals, the most dangerous part of the experience is often the drive to the facility. Never keep the container in the cabin of your vehicle. Store it in the trunk or in a truck bed. Not only does this prevent spills in the interior of your car, but it prevents dangerous fumes from building up inside the cabin.
Do not be afraid to go overboard packing the container into your vehicle. Start with a cardboard box or a tub, line it with a trash bag, then put the container inside and surround it with crumpled trash bags to cushion it.
Quantity and Residency Limits
HHW facilities are designed for ‘household volumes.’ Not industrial or high-volume lab quantities. Check your local facilities limits on the daily amount you can drop off. These facilities usually require proof of residency in their respective municipality.
After you leave
The technicians sort and pack the substance. If it is common enough, it gets combined with similar substances and put into a large drum. Smaller containers of more unique types of chemicals are packed individually and cushioned.
These containers are then shipped to industrial treatment plants that handle each separate type of chemical.
Paints & Solvents
These may undergo distillation and recycling, fuel blending, or high-temperature incineration.
Acids & Bases
Neutralized to a pH of 7. Now non-corrosive, they are safe for further processing.
Pesticides/Toxics
These are heated to temperatures often above 2000° F. This breaks the molecular bonds of the toxin.
Batteries/Mercury
Metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury are extracted and purified to be used in new products.