There are some items that just shouldn’t go into your household waste, including a range of cleaners, liquids, electronics, medications, and similar items. But how do you know which ones to keep out of the rest and how do you get rid of these items? This post will cover hazardous household waste disposal tips that Rochester residents should be mindful of.

Safe Disposal of Hazardous Household Waste

• Fluorescent tubes, CFL, or HID bulbs: Hardware stores will often take back these mercury-containing lightbulbs for disposal. 
• Used motor oil and oil filters: Most auto parts stores and many repair stations will take your used motor oil, and often your used oil filter as well.
• Batteries: Household batteries can often be recycled at battery stores and at community clean-up events. Vehicle batteries may be turned in for a core charge or dropped off at a junkyard.
• Paint: If the paint is useable, consider donating it to your local Habitat for Humanity chapter or similar organization. If it isn’t usable, leave latex paint open to dry before disposing in regular waste, and for other paints, turn in at a community clean-up event.
• Electronics: There are a range of materials in electronic devices that should be recycled. Contact a local electronics recycler to dispose of these items.
• Medicines: Many municipalities have drop-off locations for expired medications. Call your police or sheriff’s office non-emergency number to find locations.
• Sharp items: For medical needles, place in a heavy plastic canister prior to disposal and ask if you can leave it with your doctor’s office. For other sharp objects, package similarly and mark the canister prior to disposal.
• Ammunition, household cleaners, and other hazardous materials: Contact your local fire department to ask about hazardous material drop-off locations near you.

By taking care to safely dispose of hazardous household waste, you can ensure that you’re keeping dangerous toxins out of the environment where they can harm others. For everything else, a dumpster rental is a great way to get rid of excess junk in your home. If you need a dumpster rental or more information about hazardous household waste disposal for your Rochester home, please feel free to contact the friendly team at Gateway Dumpsters today to get started.