Household Hazardous Waste Alternatives

Most homes have bathrooms, kitchens, basements and garages that contain products to make our lives easier. However, some of these products may be dangerous if used or disposed of improperly. Many less toxic alternatives are available that are comparable to the effectiveness of their hazardous counterparts. The guide below was developed to help identify hazardous products and their ingredients, provide less toxic alternatives, and disposal instructions.

Category: Automotive Product: Antifreeze Hazardous Ingredients: Ethylene Glycol Alternatives: Low toxic propylene glycol type antifreeze. Avoid ethylene glycol Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: 1 HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Transmission Fluid Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons, Mineral Oils Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Brake Fluid Hazardous Ingredients: Glycol Ethers, Heavy Metals Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Motor Oil Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons, Heavy Metals Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: 1 HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Batteries Hazardous Ingredients: Sulfuric Acid, Lead Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: 1 HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Degreaser Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons, Solvents Alternatives: Use citrus or water-based products. Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Diesel Fuel Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Gasoline Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons, Lead Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Automotive Product: Kerosene Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Bathroom Product: Lotions, Perfumes, Cosmetics Hazardous Ingredients: Alternatives: Put in Trash: 1 Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection:

Category: Bathroom Product: Nail Polish Remover Hazardous Ingredients: Acetone Alternatives: Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Bathroom Product: Mercury Thermometers Hazardous Ingredients: Mercury Alternatives: Digital thermometer Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Oven Cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Potassium or Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonia Alternatives: Baking soda and water Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Toilet Cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Muriatic or Oxalic Acid, Paradichlorobenzene, Calcium Hypochlorite Alternatives: 1- Toilet brush and baking soda,
2 - Mild detergent
3- Paste of borax and lemon juice Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Ammonia Based Cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Ammonia, Ethanol Alternatives: 1 - Vinegar
2 - Baking soda and water
3 - Salt and water mix Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Drain Cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide, Sodium Hypochlorite, Hydrochloric Acid, Petroleum Distillates Alternatives: Plunger, flush with boiling water, 1/4 cup baking soda and 2 oz. vinegar Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Rug/Upholstery Cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Naphthalene, Perchloroethylene, Oxalic Acid, Diethylene Glycol Alternatives: Baking soda sprinkled on rug then vacuum Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Furniture and Floor Polish Hazardous Ingredients: Diethylene Glycol, Petroleum Distillates, Nitrobenzene Alternatives: 1 Part lemon juice and 2 parts vegetable or olive oil Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Bleach Hazardous Ingredients: Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium or Calcium Hypochlorite Alternatives: For laundry, 1 cup white vinegar or baking soda Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Abrasive Cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Tri-sodium phosphate, Ammonia, Ethanol Alternatives: Rub with ½ lemon dipped in borax, rinse and dry Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Glass cleaners Hazardous Ingredients: Alternatives: Vinegar and newspaper Put in Trash: 1 Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection:

Category: Cleaners Product: Metal Cleaner - Silver Hazardous Ingredients: Sulfuric Acid Alternatives: Rub a paste of baking soda and water or soak in boiling water with salt and a piece of aluminum Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Cleaners Product: Metal Cleaner - Stainless Steel Hazardous Ingredients: Sulfuric Acid Alternatives: Moisten a cloth with white or cider vinegar and wipe clean. Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Fungicides Hazardous Ingredients: Captan, Folpet, Anilazine, Zinc and Copper Compounds Alternatives: Do not over water, keep areas clean and dry Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: House plant insecticide Hazardous Ingredients: Methoprene, Malathion, Tetramethrin, Carbaryl Alternatives: Mixture of bar soap and water, spray on leaves then rinse Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Fertilizers Hazardous Ingredients: Various Alternatives: Leave grass clippings Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Pesticides and Insecticides Hazardous Ingredients: Various Alternatives: Insecticidal soap Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Herbicides Hazardous Ingredients: 2,3-D, Glyphosate, Prometon Alternatives: Strong hoeing or hand weeding, keep grass short Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Flea Collars and sprays Hazardous Ingredients: Carbamates, Pyrethrin, Organophosphates Alternatives: Herbal collar/ointment (rosemary or eucalyptus) Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Roach and Ant killers Hazardous Ingredients: Organophosphates, Carbamates, Pyrethrins Alternatives: Roaches - traps or baking soda and powdered sugar
Ants - chili powder to hinder entry Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Garden Product: Rat and Mouse Poisons Hazardous Ingredients: Brodifacoum, Courmarins, Strychnine Alternatives: Live traps, remove food supply Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Oil Based Paint Hazardous Ingredients: Pigments, Ethylene, Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Mineral Spirits Alternatives: Latex or water based paint Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Latex or Water Based Paints - Dried Out Hazardous Ingredients: Resins, Glycol, Ethers, Esters, Pigments, Phenyl Mercuric Acetate Alternatives: Lime stone based white wash or casein-based paint Put in Trash: 1 Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection:

Category: Home Improvement Product: Thinners and Turpentine Hazardous Ingredients: N-Butyl Alcohol, Acetone, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, Petroleum Distillates Alternatives: Use water with water based paints Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Furniture Strippers Hazardous Ingredients: Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Alcohols, Xylene, Toluene, Methylene Chloride Alternatives: Sandpaper or heat gun Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Wood Preservatives Hazardous Ingredients: Chlorinated Phenols, Copper or Zinc Naphthenate, Creosote, Magnesium Fluorosilicate Alternatives: Water based wood preservative Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Stains/Finishes Hazardous Ingredients: Mineral Spirits, Glycol Ethers, Ketone, Halogenated Hydrocarbons, Naphtha Alternatives: Latex paint or natural earth pigment finishes Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Adhesive (water based) Hazardous Ingredients: Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: 1 Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection:

Category: Home Improvement Product: Adhesive (solvent based) Hazardous Ingredients: Hydrocarbons Alternatives: Water based adhesive Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Asphalt roofing tar Hazardous Ingredients: Mineral Spirits Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Improvement Product: Putty, grout, caulk (water based) Hazardous Ingredients: Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: 1 Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection:

Category: Home Improvement Product: Spackle Hazardous Ingredients: Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: 1 Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection:

Category: Home Items Product: Household Batteries Hazardous Ingredients: Metals Alternatives: Rechargeable batteries Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: 1 HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Items Product: Mothballs Hazardous Ingredients: Naphthalenes, Paradichlorobenzene Alternatives: Cedar chips, newspapers, lavender flowers Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Items Product: Pool Chemicals Hazardous Ingredients: Muriatic Acid, Sodium Hypochlorite, Algicide Alternatives: Ozone or ultraviolet light systems Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1

Category: Home Items Product: Photographic Chemicals Hazardous Ingredients: Silver, Acetic Acid, Hydroquinone, Sodium Sulfite, Ferrocyanide Alternatives: Unknown Put in Trash: Reuse or Recycle: HHW Collection: 1