Household hazardous waste (HHW) is any waste generated from the use of a product containing a hazardous material that, if misused or improperly disposed of, could pose a threat to human health or the environment. Most household hazardous wastes are generated from one of the following categories:
Automotive Products:
oil, antifreeze, gasoline, brake and transmission fluid
Household Cleaners:
oven cleaners, drain cleaners, disinfectants, laundry products
Paints and Solvents:
latex and oil base paint, thinners, varnishes, wood preservatives
Poisons:
insecticides, herbicides and fungicides
When shopping for household products the best thing you can do for your family is read the label. Hazardous products will have signal words on the label like poison, corrosive, combustible, caustic, volatile, flammable, danger, caution or warning. Try to find alternative products - you can start by going to our Green Clean pages.
To learn about where to dispose of HHW safely, go to Proper Disposal of HHW.
