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Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Assortment of hazardous waste bottles

Hazardous waste includes any unused product that is poisonous, reactive, corrosive, or flammable. You can easily identify hazardous products by reading packaging labels: look for keywords such as Warning! Danger! Poison! Caution!

Improper disposal of these products is illegal and poses a risk to human health and the environment. DO NOT pour hazardous waste down the drain or discard it with regular household trash. Water treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to contain or remove these chemicals.

Of course, the best way to avoid having to dispose of hazardous waste is to not purchase hazardous products in the first place. CSWD recommends guides such as the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning and EWG’s Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database to consumers who wish to reduce the amount of hazardous waste they generate each year.

Household Hazardous Waste

Below is a partial listing of common household hazardous waste we accept by appointment only at the Environmental Depot.

Schedule Appointment
CategoryExamples
Automotive Suppliesantifreeze; autobody filler; brake fluid; gasoline; grease; motor oil; oil filters; solvents; transmission fluid; wax
Health and Beauty Aidshair dyes; nail polish & remover; thermometers
Home Improvement Suppliesglues; paint & thinner; roofing tar; stains; strippers; varnish
Household Cleanersammonia; chlorine bleach; drain openers; furniture polish; oven cleaners; rug & upholstery cleaners; tub & tile cleaners
Garden Suppliesfertilizers; herbicides; insecticides; poisons
Hobby Supplieschemistry sets; photographic chemicals; pool chemicals; pottery glaze
Mercury Containing Devicesballasts and capacitors; fluorescent light bulbs ; thermometers and thermostats
Miscellaneous Itemsbatteries*; flea powder and shampoo; propane cylinders; road flares
Nicotine, including e-
e-cigarettes
UNUSED nicotine patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers, or sprays – cartridges or refills

* Alkaline single-use household batteries can now be recycled at drop-off locations around Vermont. Bring them to the Environmental Depot, or visit www.call2recycle.org/vermont to find a location near you. Never put batteries of any kind in your recycling bin! They cause fires at recycling facilities.

Note: Hardened hazardous waste is still considered dangerous and should not be discarded as regular household trash.**

Note: Alkaline household batteries no longer contain the heavy metals they once did, so they may be discarded in household trash. All other batteries (including all rechargeables) must be brought to the Environmental Depot.

Where to bring hazardous waste

The CSWD Environmental Depot accepts hazardous waste and electronics by appointment only from Chittenden County residents and qualifying businesses. The Depot is a permanent, year-round facility located in South Burlington.

Schedule Appointment

USED OIL

PESTICIDES & GARDEN CHEMICALS

LEFTOVER PAINT