Household Hazardous Waste

Help protect the environment and our health. Don't dispose of dangerous household chemicals in your garbage, down storm drains, into sinks, or by burying them. They pose a threat to Florida's drinking water.

Product labels can tip you off to a potential hazard. Look for any of these words: Pesticide, Warning, Caustic, Poison, Acid, Danger, or Flammable.

Household hazardous waste includes items like these:

• Paint and paint thinners
• Batteries (except alkaline/non-rechargeables)
• Fluorescent lightbulbs
• Cooking oil
• Motor oil
• Antifreeze and brake fluid
• Household cleaning fluids
• Pool chemicals
• Pesticides
• Propane tanks

Electronic equipment can be recycled. An item is considered electronic waste if it contains a circuit board. Examples include:

• Cell phones
• Computers
• Televisions
• Please note that rear-projection television sets cannot be recycled. You may dispose of rear-projection televisions at the curb as a large item pickup. Please refer to the Residential Curbside Collection Program page for more information.
• VCRs
• CD players
• Stereos

Many local retailers offer electronics recycling. Visit Earth911 to search for a location by equipment type.

When disposing of unwanted or expired medications, do not flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain. Instead, bring them to one of Orange County's drop-off locations, which can be found on the EcoMap at www.ocfl.net/environment. You may also safely dispose of unwanted medications by following these federal guidelines:

1. Take prescription drugs out of their original containers.
2. Discourage consumption by mixing with an undesirable substance such as cat litter, dirt, or used coffee grounds.
3. Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as an empty margarine tub, or a sealable bag.
4. Remove or conceal any personal information, including Rx number, on the empty drug containers by scratching off or covering with black permanent marker or duct tape.
5. Place the sealed container with the mixture and the empty drug containers in the trash.

When replacing an air conditioner, freezer, or refrigerator, have the delivery company remove your old appliance. These contain freon and will not be picked up curbside.

Orange County residents may bring freon-containing devices to the Orange County Landfill during operating hours for a minimum charge of $6.

Solid Waste Division
5901 Young Pine Road
Orlando, FL  32829

Email: Solid.Waste@ocfl.net
Solid Waste Hotline: (407) 836-6601

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.