Household hazardous waste

We use household hazardous products every day in cleaning and fixing our homes, maintaining our cars, and taking care of our lawns. But if these products are not properly used, stored, and disposed of, they can present a hazard to our health and our environment.

Where are the hazardous waste products in your home?

Finding household hazardous products starts with the label. Look for these "signal words:" caution, warning, danger, or poison.

Find your household hazardous waste collection site

Minnesota's program for household hazardous waste (HHW) maintains a network of regional, local, and mobile facilities to collect household hazardous waste.

Disposal guides

Household hazardous waste poses a threat to people or the environment — or both — if not disposed of properly. Find out what's considered hazardous and don’t throw this stuff in the trash. Most of HHW items can be dropped off at your local household hazardous waste facility.

Safe disposal options for needles and syringes

Find out how to dispose of needles and syringes safely.

Disposing of unwanted medications

Help keep our waters clean. Don't let medications go down the drain.

Changing your oil: An earth-friendly guide for do-it-yourselfers

Recycle motor oil and handle it properly so it does not contaminate our land or water.

Fluorescent light bulbs: Use them, recycle them.

Using energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs makes good sense—you save money on electric bills and help protect the environment. But because they contain mercury, they must be recycled to avoid polluting the environment and posing a health threat.

Household battery recycling and disposal

Once a battery is used up or no longer useful, the battery’s chemistry will determine how best to dispose of it. Look on the battery’s label or packaging to identify what it is made of, then use this guide to identify the safe disposal method.

HHW fact sheets

How-to guides for dealing with household-hazardous waste.

Let’s Get the Lead Out: Non-lead alternatives for fishing tackle

Found in most fishing jigs and sinkers, lead is poisoning wildlife such as loons and eagles. Find out about switching to non-lead alternatives for fishing tackle.

Treated wood: Use, disposal, and alternatives for consumers

Treating wood with chemical preservatives or pesticides lengthens its useful life and conserves trees, but some of the chemicals used in treating wood are toxic to people and the environment. To reduce adverse health and environmental impacts, be sure to select, use, and dispose of treated wood products safely and appropriately.