What are household hazardous wastes?

Household hazardous waste and problem materials are unwanted household materials that are flammable, an oxidizer, corrosive, toxic, reactive, or contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These products have a wide variety of uses in your household, but they can harm human health and the environment if used, stored or disposed of improperly. 

Household hazardous wastes and problem materials include:

  • Automotive products
    • Including automotive fluids, lead-acid batteries and oil filters
  • Household, lawn and garden products
    • Including adhesives, aerosols, batteries, cleaners, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs, mercury-containing items, paint, pesticides, poisons, pool chemicals, stains and varnishes
  • Personal care products
    • Including nail polish, hair spray and perfume
  • Electronics
    • Including audio equipment, computers and peripherals, telephones, televisions and video equipment
  • Major appliances
  • Tires

For a detailed list of materials, see the Household Hazardous Wastes and Problem Materials Guide.

How do I dispose of household hazardous wastes?

The county collects and manages hazardous wastes at drop-off facilities and collection events in order to prevent the associated environmental and health issues.

See the A to Z How-to-Get-Rid-of-It Guide for disposal information of specific materials.

What happens to household hazardous waste?

About 100,000 residents drop off items at Hennepin County’s drop-off facilities and collection events every year. The waste is managed by the county in the most environmentally protective, cost-effective method possible.
 
For more information, see What Happens to All This Stuff factsheet (pdf 257KB).