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| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Automotive Supplies | antifreeze; autobody filler; brake fluid; gasoline; grease; motor oil; oil filters; solvents; transmission fluid; wax |
| Health and Beauty Aids | hair dyes; nail polish & remover; thermometers |
| Home Improvement Supplies | glues; paint & thinner; roofing tar; stains; strippers; varnish |
| Household Cleaners | ammonia; chlorine bleach; drain openers; furniture polish; oven cleaners; rug & upholstery cleaners; tub & tile cleaners |
| Garden Supplies | fertilizers; herbicides; insecticides; poisons |
| Hobby Supplies | chemistry sets; photographic chemicals; pool chemicals; pottery glaze |
| Mercury Containing Devices | ballasts and capacitors; fluorescent light bulbs ; thermometers and thermostats |
| Miscellaneous Items | batteries*; flea powder and shampoo; propane cylinders; road flares |
| Nicotine, including e- e-cigarettes | UNUSED nicotine patches, lozenges, gum, inhalers, or sprays – cartridges or refills |
* As of July 1, 2024 – All single-use and rechargeable batteries are banned from the landfill/trash. 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.
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