Household Hazardous Waste Fact Sheet
What is household hazardous waste?
- Products such as household cleaners, automotive oils and lawn care herbicides are considered hazardous waste because of their potential to hurt the environment when disposed of incorrectly.
- Household hazardous waste is any product with the word danger (most hazardous) or warning or caution (less hazardous) on its label. A hazardous product will also have at least one of the following properties on its label: toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive.
What items may be considered household hazardous waste?
- Paint products
- Automotive fluids
- Beauty products, such as nail polish remover,
- Lawn and garden care products
- Pool chemicals
- Mercury-containing items, such as thermometers,
- Medicines
- Household cleaners
Why be concerned with household hazardous waste items?
- Household hazardous waste can ignite if thrown in the regular trash, contaminate septic tanks or wastewater if poured down the drain or toilet or at the curb and travel directly into our streams, lakes and waterways.
- Household hazardous waste products from one home may seem insignificant, but when multiplied by millions of homes across Indiana that use similar products and dispose of them improperly, the combined effect becomes a serious problem.
What can I do to rid my home of household hazardous waste?
- Generate less waste and buy only what you can use.
- Reuse or donate unused products to friends or community organizations.
- Avoid using chemical pesticides by using traps or other Integrated Pest Management methods for pest control.
- Select the least hazardous product to do the job and buy the minimum amounts necessary.
- Remember to always dispose of products in their original containers because the label contains important information such as manufacturer's name and phone number to contact in an emergency.
- Contact your city's or county's environmental health, solid waste or public works department for information regarding information on proper disposal and for information on which wastes can be recycled in your area.
Where can I get more information about household hazardous waste?
Call IDEM's Office of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance at (800) 988-7901.
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