Household Hazardous Waste Management
What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) are unused products typically found in a home that can create a safety and/or environmental hazard when improperly discarded. Here are some examples of HHW:
List here in bullets the most common types of HHW
- Paint
- Pesticides/herbicides
- Used oil or fuel
- Batteries and Bulbs
- Solvents
Here are examples of potential environmental impacts of improper HHW disposal
- Groundwater can become contaminated when dumped on the ground
- Surface waters get contaminated when dumped down the storm drain or into the gutter
- Can start fires or create other dangerous situations when mixed with other non-compatible waste
How do I know if my household waste is hazardous?
An easy way to determine if your household waste is hazardous is to check the label. Look for pictograms or words like “CAUTION”, “WARNING”, “DANGER”, “POISON”, or “TOXIC”.
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FLAMMABLE/OXIDIZERS-can cause a fire |
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HEALTH HAZARD/IRRITANT- Exposure can cause negative health effects (damage to skin, eyes, or respiratory system). |
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CORROSIVE-Will dissolve materials and/or burn your skin | |
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REACTIVE/GAS CYLINDER-may explode or create violent reactions |
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POISON/TOXIC– poisonous to humans, animals, and/or aquatic life |
For more information about OSHA’s HAZCOMM pictograms go to: www.OSHA.gov
Do’s and Don’ts when managing your HHW
After you’ve identified your HHW, it is important to properly store it and then either dispose of it or recycle it. Here are some things to consider:
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Read the label |
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See if neighbors or friends can safely use the product | |
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Keep it in the original container. | |
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Only buy what you need to limit extra product | |
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Call SNHD or your trash collection agency if you have questions. | |
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Call before you drop off HHW, e-waste, or other bulky items to see if there are any applicable fees | |
| Don’ts |  |
Never pour onto ground, use for dust control, or bury |
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Never mix other products or chemicals | |
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Never pour down the drain or toilet | |
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Never dump into gutters or storm sewers | |
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Never put into trash can or recycling bin |
Managing HHW, bulky wastes, and other difficult items
Below are some common examples of HHW, bulky items, e-waste and other items to dispose or recycle. . Here are helpful tips you can use when looking for disposal/recycling destinations and safety storage tips.
PLEASE NOTE: The information provided below is not an endorsement of the businesses listed herein nor of their services they may provide. Always check to see if there are charges for disposal and/or recycling before you drop off your waste items.
| Automotive | Anti-freeze/Coolant-Even though these fluids keep your vehicle’s engine from overheating during the summer and/or freezing in the winter, they may contain heavy metals that can be toxic to animals and pollute the environment.
Pro Tip: After finding a drop off location close to you, call to check if that location will take used-anti freeze for recycling. Not all automotive part stores will accept used anti-freeze for recycling. This could save you a trip. Drop off or recycling locations:
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| Batteries (automotive lead acid)-Used lead-acid batteries are corrosive and can cause fires when improperly stored or recycled.
Storage Tip: Keep your used battery off the ground and away from traffic. Pro-Tip: Before you drop off your lead-acid battery for recycling, call a couple locations to see if they will buy your used lead-acid battery or offer store credit. It just makes dollars and sense. Drop off or recycling locations:
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| Degreasers-Degreasing agents can be corrosive or flammable. Improperly disposing of these materials can burn your skin or cause fires.
Storage Tip: Never mix chemicals. Always keep these chemicals in their original container, ensuring its kept closed, and stored in a cool and dry location prior to disposal. Drop off location(s): |
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| Used Oil & Oil Filters-These fluids keep your vehicle’s engine running smoothly but can pollute our drinking water and be toxic to animals and humans when disposed or recycled improperly.
Disposal Tip: If unable to recycle your used oil filters, allow the oil filter to drain for a minimum of 24 hours into your used oil container, then place into a secured plastic bagand place it in your trash. Pro Tip: After finding a drop off location close to you, call to check if that location will take used oil filters for recycling. While most of these locations will take used oil, they don’t always take used oil filters. Drop off or recycling locations:
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| Solvents/Fuel– Cleaning solvents, contaminated fuel, or any other automotive solvents are flammable and toxic to humans and animals. When improperly recycled or disposed these chemicals can cause fires or pollute our drinking water.
Storage Tip: Prior to disposal, solvents should be kept out of the sun and away from flames and/or heat sources. Drop off location(s): |
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| Tires-Tires create safety hazards when improperly disposed and can provide harborage for mosquitoes when illegally dumped. | |
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| Batteries | Alkaline (Single use)-These include non-rechargeable, single use batteries like AAA, AA, C, and D batteries. When these batteries no longer hold a charge, they may be thrown away in your regular trash bin in small quantities. DO NOT place them in your curb side recycling bin. Recycling services for these items are available.
Pro Tip: Before starting to collect and consolidate single use batteries for recycling, make sure you’ve found a location that will take these types of batteries for recycling. Not all home improvement stores offer recycling services. Also ask if there is a charge for recycling single use batteries. It just makes dollars and sense. Drop off or recycling locations:
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| Rechargeable Batteries-These include rechargeable batteries like nickel metal hydride (NiMH), Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Lithium Ion, Lithium Metal, lead acid (non-auto), silver oxide, etc. These types of batteries can contain toxic heavy metals, corrosive material, and act as oxidizing agents so it is very important to properly store and recycle these.
Storage Tip: During storage, place each battery in a separate plastic bag or place electrical tape across the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals. Doing this will ensure your batteries are stored safely before recycling. Pro Tip#1: Before starting to collect and consolidate your batteries for recycling, make sure you’ve found a location that will take these types of batteries for recycling. Not all home improvement stores offer recycling services. Also ask if there is a charge for recycling. It just makes dollars and sense. Pro Tip#2: If your rechargeable battery is from a power tool, contact the power tool manufacturer to see if they will take back the battery. Most power tool manufacturers (Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Porter-Cable, etc.) have Las Vegas based offices. Drop off or recycling locations:
Mail Back Programs: |
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| Indoor | Aerosol Cans-Aerosol cans contain pressurized propellants that can be flammable or ozone depleting compounds, making it important to properly recycle or dispose of these items.
Storage Tip: Never puncture aerosol cans. Always keep these chemicals in their original container, ensuring they’re kept closed, away from heat/fire sources, and stored in a cool and dry location prior to disposal. Drop off location(s): |
| Cleaning Products-
They might keep your house and/or appliances clean but when improperly disposed, they can pollute our drinking water or cause fires. Storage Tip: Never mix chemicals. Always keep these chemicals in their original container, ensuring they’re kept closed, and stored in a cool and dry location prior to disposal. Drop off location(s): |
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| Fluorescent Tubes, Compact Florescent Lights (CFL), etc.-Fluorescent light tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium, and neon bulbs. These lights contain mercury or other toxic metals that are harmful to public health and the environment.
Storage Tip: Keep the old box your new lighting came in and put your old one in it and then label it “used”. This will help keep it from breaking before you can recycle it. Pro Tip: Not all home improvement stores offer recycling services. Call ahead and check to see if the location accepts your used bulbs and if there is a fee. This could save you a trip and it just makes dollars and sense. Drop off or recycling locations:
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| Pharmaceuticals/Medication-Unused pharmaceuticals can severally pollute our drinking water when flushed down the toilet and pose safety concerns when disposed improperly. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they will accept your old medication.
Disposal Tip: If you’re unable to drop off your pharmaceuticals, check out this link from our partners at the Clean Water Team for a safe and effective way to properly dispose of your unusable medication at home. Drop off locations:
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| Thermostats-Thermostats may contain Mercury, a toxic material that is harmful to public health and the environment and should be disposed of properly.
Drop off location(s): |
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| Electronic Waste (E-Waste) | CRTs (Cathode Ray Televisions & Monitors)- These devices often contain components that have heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium. When disposed improperly can contaminate our drinking water.
Pro Tip: Call and check to see if there is a fee before you drop off your old CRT. It just makes dollars and sense. Drop off or recycling locations: |
| Cell Phones/Tablets– These devices often contain components that have heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium. Their batteries can contain toxic heavy metals, corrosive material, and act as oxidizing agents so it is very important to properly store and recycle these. When improperly disposed can contaminate our drinking water.
Pro Tip #1: Call and check to see if there is a fee before you drop off your old Cell phone or tablet. Most cell phone providers offer take back/recycling programs or may even pay you for your device. It just makes dollars and sense. Pro Tip #2: Always erase your personal information on your device before disposal or recycling. Pro Tip#3: If you are in the market for a new cell phone, see if the location where you’ll be purchasing your new cell phone will take and recycle your old cell phone. Drop off or recycling locations: |
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| Computers/Printers– These devices often contain components that have heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium. When disposed improperly can contaminate our drinking water.
Pro Tip #1: Call and check to see if there is a fee before you drop off your old computer. It just makes dollars and sense. Pro Tip #2: Always erase your personal information on your device(s) before disposal or recycling. Drop off or recycling locations: |
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| TVs/Monitors– These devices often contain components that have heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium. When disposed improperly can contaminate our drinking water.
Pro Tip: Call and check to see if there is a fee before you drop off your old flat screen TV or monitor. It just makes dollars and sense. Drop off or recycling locations: |
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| Mercury Containing Devices-Elemental Mercury is extremely toxic to humans, animals, and our ecosystem. Proper containment, disposal and/or recycling is key to managing it safely.
Contact the Southern Nevada Health District 702-759-0600 for individual recommendations. Check out the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection’s website for information regarding Mercury Spills. Mail back program: |
| Bulky Items | Appliances-If you don’t have room for your old appliances, ensure they’re properly recycled or disposed of. Illegally dumped appliances create attractive nuisances for other illegal dumping to occur and can create harborage for vermin. Ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers are all made of recyclable materials like metal and plastic. If your appliance(s) still work, consider donating it. If you live in Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin or North Las Vegas check to see if your item qualifies for a bulk item pickup. If you live in Boulder City, please call 702-293-2276 to schedule bulky item collection(s). (see also Refrigerator below)
Pro-Tip #1: Once you’ve identified which your drop off location, ask if there are any fees to drop off your old appliances. This could save you money and your back. Pro-Tip #2: Before you buy your new appliance, ask if the store will take your old one when they deliver the new one. This could save you time or your back. Donation Tip: Check to see if you can schedule a pickup service for your refrigerator. This could save you time or your back. Donation organizations:
Drop off location: |
| Furniture- Illegally dumped furniture create attractive nuisances for other illegal dumping to occur and can create harborage for vermin. If your furniture is in good condition, consider donating it or selling it via a consignment store. If you live in Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin or North Las Vegas check to see if your item qualifies for a bulk item pickup. If you live in Boulder City, please call 702-293-2276 to schedule bulky item collection(s).
Pro-Tip #1: Once you’ve identified which your drop off location, ask if there are any fees to drop off your old furniture. This could save you money and your back. Pro-Tip #2: Before buying new furniture, ask if the store will take your old items when they deliver the new ones. This could save you time or your back. Donation Tip: Check to see if you can schedule a pickup service when donating your furniture. This could save you time or your back. Donation organizations:
Drop off location(s): |
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| Mattresses-Mattresses are difficult to maneuver and can create havoc in a solid waste management system. Illegally dumped mattresses create attractive nuisances for other illegal dumping to occur and can create harborage for vermin. If you live in Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin or North Las Vegas check to see if your item qualifies for a bulk item pickup. If you live in Boulder City, please call 702-293-2276 to schedule bulky item collection(s).
Drop off location(s): |
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| Refrigerator-. Improperly disposing of your refrigerator could release freon, an ozone depleting gas that is harmful to our environment so it’s important to ensure they’re properly recycled or disposed. If your refrigerator still works, consider donating it. If you live in Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin or North Las Vegas check to see if your item qualifies for a bulk item pickup. If you live in Boulder City, please call 702-293-2276 to schedule bulky item collection(s).
Pro-Tip #1: Once you’ve identified your drop off location, ask if there are any fees to drop off your old refrigerator. There can be fees for freon removal. This could save you money and your back. Pro-Tip #2: Before you buy your new refrigerator, ask if the store will take your old one when they deliver the new one. This could save you time or your back. Donation Tip: Check to see if you can schedule a pickup service for your refrigerator. This could save you time or your back. Donation organizations:
Drop off location:
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| Paint & Solvents | Latex-Latex paint can cause issues with disposal equipment and create a big mess when disposed improperly.
Disposal Tip: Take off the paint bucket lid and let the bucket sit in the sun to dry. Make sure to put it in a location where people or animals won’t trip on it. Things could get messy….. If you don’t have a lot of time, add Kitty litter or another solidifying agent to paint and allow it to thicken. Once the mixture is solidified, replace thelid and put it in your residential trash can.. Drop off location(s): |
| Oil Based-Oil based paints are all hazardous because they contain solvents and chemicals that are flammable and must be disposed of properly.
Pro Tip: Most HHW drop off locations have limitations on the volume of liquids you’re allowed to drop off at one time. Call to see what those limitations are. Drop off location(s): |
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| Solvents-Paint thinners, paint removers, or any other solvent are hazardous because they contain chemicals that are flammable and must be disposed of properly.
Storage Tip: Never mix chemicals. Always keep these chemicals in their original container, ensuring its kept closed, and stored in a cool and dry location away from flames and sources of heat prior to disposal. Drop off location(s): |
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| Outdoor | Fertilizers, Pesticides, etc.-These items contain toxic materials that are harmful to public health and the environment and should be disposed of properly. Storage Tip: Never mix chemicals. Always keep these chemicals in their original container, ensuring its kept closed, and stored in a cool and dry location prior to disposal.
Drop off location(s): |
| Pool Chemicals-Although they may keep your pool/spa crystal clear, when improperly disposed, they can pollute our drinking water and cause fires.
Storage Tip: Never mix chemicals. Always keep these chemicals in their original container, ensuring they’re kept closed, and stored in a cool and dry location prior to disposal. Drop off location(s): |
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| Propane Tanks-Figuring out what to do with old propane tanks can be tricky and can pose a significant safety hazard when incorrectly managed. If your propane tank isn’t empty, consider returning your tank to a refill/exchange location for recycling/reuse. Never put these items in your trash or recycling bin.
Refill/Exchange location(s): |
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| Landscape Debris-Landscape debris can become a harborage for vermin or a fire hazard when illegally dumped. If your residential trash container isn’t big enough for all your debris, check out the drop off locations listed below.
Pro Tip: Always call ahead to see if there are fees for dropping off your landscape debris. Disposal Tip: If its bulk trash pick up day, neatly bundle your landscape debris together or place them into 5 gallon garbage bags and place it next to your garbage container. Check out this helpful link for more information. Drop off location(s): |
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| Misc | Ammunition/Explosives
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue 500 North Casino Center Blvd. Fire Extinguisher Clark County Fire Department 702-455-7311 Fireworks Clark County Fire Station 18 575 E Flamingo Rd. Call ahead 702-455-7311 |
HHW drop off locations
Boulder City Disposal
- 2500 Utah Street, Boulder City, Nevada
Republic Services
- 333 West Gowan Road, Las Vegas, Nevada
- 560 Cape Horn Drive, Henderson, Nevada
- 1.2 miles south of Hwy. 163 on Needles Hwy., Laughlin, Nevada
Virgin Valley Disposal
- 3200 Mesquite Heights Rd, Mesquite, NV
HHW drop off locations
Boulder City Disposal
- 2500 Utah Street, Boulder City, Nevada
Republic Services
- 333 West Gowan Road, Las Vegas, Nevada
- 560 Cape Horn Drive, Henderson, Nevada
- 1.2 miles south of Hwy. 163 on Needles Hwy., Laughlin, Nevada
Virgin Valley Disposal
- 3200 Mesquite Heights Rd, Mesquite, NV
Contact Information
Updated on: September 19, 2023