What is HHW?
Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are wastes produced in the household* that could be chemically or physically characterized as hazardous.
However, HHW is not regulated as hazardous waste under federal and state laws.
Each person in Pennsylvania typically generates an average of 4lbs. of HHW each year. HHW includes old paint and paint-related products, pesticides, pool chemicals, drain cleaners, degreasers, car care products and other common household products.
If carelessly managed, HHW can create environmental and public health hazards.
*Households include: single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew headquarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds and day-use recreation areas.
How can I identify HHW?
Generally, HHW belong to one of the following hazardous waste categories:
CORROSIVES: Drain cleaners, rust removers and oven cleaners. Corrosives have an extremely low or high PH and can burn skin and mucous membranes. Labels usually state, “CORROSIVE– AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN OR EYES.”
FLAMMABLES: Gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, butane, oil-based paints and paint thinners. Labels usually say, “HIGHLY FLAMMABLE–KEEP AWAY FROM FLAMES.”
TOXIC MATERIALS: Benzene, cyanide compounds, poisons and pesticides. Materials may be carcinogenic. Labels usually state, “DANGER/POISON” or “WARNING–KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.”
OXIDIZERS: Pool chemicals, sodium hypochlorite and various peroxides. These chemicals react strongly with other compounds and may cause fires or explosions. Labels usually say, “WARNING– STRONG OXIDIZER.”
AIR QUALITY HAZARDS: Certain thermostats, paints that contains more than one percent by weight of heavy metals, products containing significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and batteries (nickel, cadmium, lithium and lead acid).
WILDLIFE HAZARDS: Chlorinated pesticides such as DDT, chlordane, dieldrin and heptachlor. Labels usually indicate materials present a hazard to fish or wildlife. Some materials may be slow to degrade and may bioaccumulate in the tissues of fish or wildlife.
UNKNOWNS: Unidentified materials should be treated as though they belong to one of the above categories until proven otherwise.
What can YOU do about HHW?
The best way to manage HHW is to avoid creating it. Select the least toxic product to do the job. Buy only as much as you need.
Is the product still usable? Give it away. A friend, neighbor, or community group such as Little League or Habitat for Humanity may be able to use it.
If the product isn’t usable, or you can’t give it away, take it to your community’s HHW collection program.
Do you have used motor oil or used oil filters? Take them to a used oil collection site.
Take spent lead acid batteries back to the place where you bought them. State law requires dealers to accept old batteries when you buy new ones.
If your community doesn’t have an HHW collection program, or if you must throw the material away before the next collection, you may put it in your regular trash, PROVIDED:
- You have complied with any disposal instructions on the label.
- There are no free-standing liquids. If waterbased, allow the liquid to evaporate. If not water-based, absorb the liquid into vermiculite, cat litter, saw dust or other absorbent material.
- You have carefully packaged any residue to prevent leakage while the material is being transported to a disposal facility.
- Dispose of in small quantities over several collection periods.
Services Provided
Residential Curbside Collection – Collection of residential municipal solid waste (MSW) shall be made once per week from all participating residential dwelling units. Collection shall include a maximum of four (4) containers of MSW weekly. The owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or occupant must provide sufficient and suitable containers for receiving and holding residential MSW. “Suitable” containersinclude plastic waste bag, closed, and tied, receptacle or can made of metal, plastic or other suitable material constructed to prevent spillage of its contents. Receptacles shall be waterproof and shall riot exceed forty (40) pounds in weight.
Bulk Item Collection – Collection of bulk items shall be made once per week. Collection is limited to one (1) bulk item per week per residential unit. Bulk items are any item that is too large or bulky to be picked up by one person. Acceptable bulk items include Tables/Chairs, Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic), Box Springs, Appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher), Sofas, Similar items that can be lifted by two people into the compaction truck hopper. Non-Acceptable Items include but are not limited to; Items containing freon (refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, dehumidifier, etc.), Electronics (Televisions, Computer Monitors, Computers, laptops, game consoles, etc.), Household Hazardous Waste, Herbicides / Insecticides, Solvents, Chemicals, Propane Tanks, Liquids, Batteries, Construction & Demolition Waste, Concrete, Tree Stumps, Yard debris, Automotive parts, No loose piles.
