The item you selected is considered to be a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). 

 

HHW's are those wastes produced in our households that are hazardous in nature, but are not regulated as hazardous waste, under federal and state laws.

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How to manage HHW's

• The best method of managing HHW is to prevent its generation in the first place. This involves selecting the least toxic item "to do the job" and buying only the amounts necessary.

• If the material is still useable (damaged/shelf life expired, etc.) check to see others might be able to use it. Check with community groups to see if they can use the product.

• If the material is not useable and/or if such "outlets" are not available, it should be taken to your community's HHW Collection Program. Such programs will ensure that your HHW is recycled or, otherwise, managed, in an environmentally preferable way, under the hazardous waste provisions of the law.

• If your community does not have a collection program or you must discard the materials prior to the next scheduled event, you may legally discard them in your regular trash pick up, provided:

  • You have read the label and complied with any disposal directions.

  • Liquids have either been allowed to evaporate (if water based) or absorbed (if non-water based) on some material such as vermiculite, cat litter, or sawdust, so that there are no freestanding liquids).

  • The remaining residue has been packaged to prevent leakage while the material is being transported to the disposal facility

  • The material is placed out in small quantities, over several collection periods.

• For more information in HHW, see the PA Department of Environmental Protection's HHW Website.

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