You may be surprised to learn just how much household hazardous waste you have at home. Many household products contain dangerous chemicals that require special handling. If not properly disposed of, these chemicals can harm humans, animals and the environment. Burying these chemicals in the ground or pouring them down storm drains or sinks can result in groundwater pollution. Since most of Florida's drinking water comes from groundwater, improper disposal of these chemicals poses a threat to Florida's drinking water. To determine if a product may be hazardous, look for any of the following words on the label: Pesticide, Warning, Caustic, Poison, Acid, Danger or Flammable.

Household hazardous waste includes items such as:

• Paint
• Paint thinners and varnishes
• Batteries (except alkaline/non-rechargeable batteries)
• Used motor oil
• Antifreeze and brake fluid
• Household cleaning fluids
• Pool chemicals
• Propane tanks up to 100 pounds
• Pesticides

These items are not collected in the curbside collection program. You may bring household hazardous waste to either of the following locations:

• Orange County Landfill, Monday through Sunday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• McLeod Road Transfer Station, Wednesdays and Saturdays, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

This free service is available to Orange County residents. An attendant is present at both facilities at the above times to assist with unloading.

Orange County residents may also bring their household hazardous waste to a community collection event. For information on upcoming community collection events, you may access the 2009 Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Community Collection Event Schedule (PDF - 260 KB).

Before taking your materials to either a permanent collection facility or a community collection event, please do the following:

• If the material is still usable, use it up.
• Label the material. If you do not know what the material is, label it "unknown."
• Do not mix different or unknown materials together.
• If containers are leaking, pack them in a larger container with absorbent material, such as kitty litter, to soak up leaks.
• Use boxes with dividers for easy packaging and transport.
• Do not bring biologically active materials, radioactive materials, explosives, ammunition or tires.

You may access the Household Hazardous Waste brochure (PDF - 3.06 MB) for more information.