Household Hazardous Waste Program

Why is Household Hazardous Waste a Problem?

Small quantities of hazardous materials are common in the homes of most Oregonians. Examples include pesticides, herbicides, poisons, corrosives, solvents, fuels, paints, motor oil, antifreeze, and mercury and mercury-containing wastes. Risks from household hazardous wastes stem from improper use, handling, storage and disposal. Some of these can be toxic in small quantities and represent significant hazards to human health and the environment.

According to national estimates, each home contains from three to eight gallons of hazardous materials in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and basements. Throwing them in the garbage can threaten sanitation workers, who can be injured or poisoned by acids, fires, and explosions. The outcome of improper use and handling of household hazardous wastes is the potential contamination of surface water, groundwater, and air resulting in exposure to humans. You should not dispose of your household toxic trash down the sink, on the ground, down a storm drain or in your garbage can.

How to Minimize Hazardous Waste in Your Home

1. Use safer alternatives.
2. Read labels before purchasing. Watch for the words "caution," "warning," and "danger." Follow label directions.
3. Buy only what you need and will use up.
4. If you do have products left over, give them to friends, neighbors, or charitable institutions to use up.
5. Take unwanted products to a hazardous waste collection site.

For more information on the dangers of hazardous household products and how you can reduce them, go to:

• Hazardous Products in the Home

Collection Information

• Public Information
  • Locally-sponsored HHW services, by county
    A list of Oregon’s locally sponsored HHW programs, including permanent collection facilities and local contact information.
  • Statewide HHW collection event schedule
    A month-by-month calendar of DEQ-sponsored and locally-sponsored HHW events. For additional information about household hazardous waste collection in your area, call 1-800-732-9253, your local garbage hauler, or local government solid waste department.
• Local Government Information
  • Collection Event Queue
    One of the goals of the HHW program is to provide every resident in Oregon access to HHW collection.
  • HHW Event Publicity Packet (formerly known as “Media Packet”)
    Sample news releases, PSAs, and other documents and graphics to help you generate publicity for your event. To obtain electronic copies of this information, please contact DEQ's HHW Coordinator at 503-229-5106 or .

Other Information:

• Disaster Debris Management
  • Local Governments
  • Residents
• Grants
  DEQ awards grants each year to local governments for recycling and solid waste prevention or reduction projects, including household hazardous waste planning, education, and permanent facility construction grants.
• Hazardous Products in the Home
  Another web page with specific information on hazardous products in the home.
• Infectious Waste
• Mercury information
  Contains information about the uses and dangers of mercury and DEQ's free mercury collection program.
• Pharmaceuticals
• Publications
  Documents, fact sheets, management plans, and reports published and/or distributed by DEQ's HHW Program.
• School lab cleanout program
• Non-DEQ Links
  • Got Leftover Paint?
    The National Paint & Coatings Association web page, see The Six-Point Program link.
  • Household Products Database
    National Library of Medicine: This database lets you search for a household product, such as dish detergent or air freshener, to find information about the health effects and safety of its chemical ingredients. Now you can find published biomedical research and clinical studies on an ingredient by clicking a link to run a PubMed search.
  • Household Hazardous Waste Project
    University of Missouri Extension, Office of Waste Management
  • Metro: Garbage and Hazardous Waste
    Metro web page to assist in easily and safely taking care of your garbage and hazardous waste (which includes your household hazardous waste).
  • MetroPaint
    Web page dedicated to the recycled latex paint produced by Metro at local facilities.
  • Oregon Poison Center
    For all Poison Information: 1-800-222-1222. The OPC is a 24-hour poison emergency information resource for health care professionals and the public throughout the state of Oregon.
  • Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
    Recycle your rechargeable batteries and cell phones.

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