Household Hazardous Waste Program

Why is Household Hazardous Waste a Problem?

Small quantities of hazardous materials are common in the homes of most Oregonians. Examples include pesticides, herbicides, poisons, corrosives, solvents, fuels, paints, motor oil, antifreeze, and mercury and mercury-containing wastes. Risks from household hazardous wastes stem from improper use, handling, storage and disposal. Some of these can be toxic in small quantities and represent significant hazards to human health and the environment.

According to national estimates, each home contains from three to eight gallons of hazardous materials in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and basements. Throwing them in the garbage can threaten sanitation workers, who can be injured or poisoned by acids, fires, and explosions. The outcome of improper use and handling of household hazardous wastes is the potential contamination of surface water, groundwater, and air resulting in exposure to humans. You should not dispose of your household toxic trash down the sink, on the ground, down a storm drain or in your garbage can.

How to Minimize Hazardous Waste in Your Home

1. Use safer alternatives.
2. Read labels before purchasing. Watch for the words "caution," "warning," and "danger." Follow label directions.
3. Buy only what you need and will use up.
4. If you do have products left over, give them to friends, neighbors, or charitable institutions to use up.
5. Take unwanted products to a hazardous waste collection site.

For more information on the dangers of hazardous household products and how you can reduce them, go to:

Hazardous products in the home

Many household products contain hazardous ingredients that can be harmful when you use them or dispose of them improperly. By understanding what products are hazardous, how to handle them and what alternatives are available, you can make your home and environment a healthier place.

• Household products database search
• Hazardous Products in the Home
  This web page describes the dangers of some household products, how to reduce risks, safety precautions and how to safely dispose of hazardous waste.
• Mercury
• Paint
• Pharmaceuticals

Collection Information

• Public Information
  • HHW services, by county
    A list of Oregon’s locally sponsored HHW programs, including permanent collection facilities and local contact information.
  • HHW collection event schedule
    A month-by-month calendar of DEQ-sponsored and locally-sponsored HHW events. For additional information about household hazardous waste collection in your area, call 1-800-732-9253, your local garbage hauler, or local government solid waste department.
  • Map of HHW collection events and facilities
    A map with information of permanent collection facilities, local contact information and dates of locally-sponsored events.
• Local Government Information
  • Collection Event Queue
    The DEQ HHW Collection Event Queue is used to determine when and where DEQ sponsored HHW events will be held.
  • HHW Event Publicity Packet (formerly known as “Media Packet”)
    Sample news releases, PSAs, and other documents and graphics to help you generate publicity for your event. To obtain electronic copies of this information, please contact DEQ's HHW Coordinator at 503-229-5106 or .

Other Information:

• Disaster Debris Management
  • Local Governments
  • Residents
• Grants
  DEQ awards grants each year to local governments for recycling and solid waste prevention or reduction projects, including household hazardous waste planning, education, and permanent facility construction grants.
• Infectious Waste
• Publications
  Documents, fact sheets, management plans, and reports published and/or distributed by DEQ's HHW Program.
• School lab cleanout program
• Non-DEQ Links
  • Got Leftover Paint?
    The National Paint & Coatings Association web page, see The Six-Point Program link.
  • Household Products Database
    National Library of Medicine: This database lets you search for a household product, such as dish detergent or air freshener, to find information about the health effects and safety of its chemical ingredients. Now you can find published biomedical research and clinical studies on an ingredient by clicking a link to run a PubMed search.
  • Household Hazardous Waste Project
    University of Missouri Extension, Office of Waste Management
  • Metro: Garbage and Recycling
    Metro, Oregon's regional government for the Portland metropolitan area, web page to assist in easily and safely taking care of your garbage and hazardous waste (which includes your household hazardous waste).
  • MetroPaint
    Web page dedicated to the recycled latex paint produced by Metro at local facilities.
  • Oregon Poison Center
    For all Poison Information: 1-800-222-1222. The OPC is a 24-hour poison emergency information resource for health care professionals and the public throughout the state of Oregon.
  • Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
    Recycle your rechargeable batteries and cell phones.

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