About Household Hazardous Waste

• What is household hazardous waste (HHW)?
• Examples of HHW
• Examples of Other Materials often Collected with HHW
• Storing and Using Household Chemicals

What is household hazardous waste?

Federal regulations exempt any wastes from the following locations from being hazardous wastes: households; hotels and motels; ranger stations and crew quarters; campgrounds and picnic grounds; and bunk houses. Since some consumer products contain chemicals that can present safety concerns if improperly used or disposed. These materials are often called household hazardous waste (HHW) when disposed of. These wastes are municipal solid waste, and almost all can be safely and legally disposed in landfills that can accept regular trash. However, there are better disposal options, so many people choose to dispose of HHW in a more protective manner. Such disposals are often done through local collection programs.

Under Texas laws and regulations, HHW is limited to those wastes from households that would be hazardous waste if they were not specifically exempted by the federal regulations. This group of materials is somewhat smaller than all consumer products that can cause environmental or health impacts, since hazardous waste only includes materials that present a significant potential for harm. Many HHW collection programs also accept materials that are not technically HHW because of the benefits of proper reuse or disposal of these materials. It is up to the entity running the collection program to determine exactly which materials will be accepted, as well as whether materials will be reused or just disposed.

Examples of HHW

• fluorescent lightbulbs (including compact fluorescent lightbulbs)
• oil-based paints
• some anti-mildew and exterior latex paints
• some wood stains
• fuels (gasoline, propane, diesel)
• corrosive cleaners (such as lye-based oven cleaners)
• drain cleaners
• pool chlorine and acid
• some televisions
• some computer monitors
• some pesticides

Examples of Other Materials Often Collected with HHW

These materials are not considered HHW but are often collected at facilities that accept HHW.

• motor oil (new or used)
• oil filters
• antifreeze (new or used)
• most latex paint

Storing and Using Household Chemicals

Here are some helpful hints for proper storage and use of chemicals that are commonly found in the home.

• Keep products in their original containers.
• Always store containers upright, not on their side.
• Make sure labels are securely fixed to containers and are readable.
• Keep chemicals in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children and pets.
• Never mix products together. The results could be dangerous—even deadly.
• Buy only what you need and use it all up.
• Share extras (such as leftover paint) with friends and neighbors.

Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs

A CFL uses about 75 percent less energy than a traditional incandescent lightbulb and they last longer. If you are interested in replacing your incandescent lightbulbs, you can find more information on compact fluorescent lightbulbs from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Energy Star program.

Mercury and CFLs

Like other fluorescent lightbulbs, compact fluorescent lightbulbs do contain mercury. However, the amount of mercury in CFLs is very small, and it is important to note that no mercury is released when CFLs are intact or in use. For more information, see the EPA's Frequently Asked Questions about Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Mercury.

If a CFL breaks in your home, there are some simple steps you can take to properly clean up broken bulbs. The EPA provides this information on page three of its Frequently Asked Questions about Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Mercury under "How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?"

CFL Recycling and Disposal

Recycling is the best disposal option for CFLs. If recycling is not an option in your area, disposing of CFLs in the regular trash is a legal option for households, but not for some businesses. If you dispose of bulbs in this manner, you should seal the CFL in a plastic bag prior to placing in the trash. If you would like more information about recycling or properly disposing of your used CFLs, see our list of local contacts or search for a local recycler on www.RecycleTexasOnline.org or www.cleanup.org.

Fluorescent Lamp Information for Businesses

Businesses looking to properly dispose of fluorescent lamps can find out more from the TCEQ guide about complying with laws when disposing of lamps and other equipment containing mercury.