The following items are accepted by Wake County’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program:
- acids / bases
- batteries
- drain openers
- fire extinguisher (dry chemical only)
- fluorescent light bulbs
- household cleaners and polishes, furniture strippers
- lighter fluid / fuel oil / kerosene / used motor oil / anti-freeze
- photographic chemicals
- paints / lacquers
- pesticides / herbicides / poisons
- solvents / thinners
- wood preservatives
- mercury thermometers
All residents of Wake County can use this service to safely dispose of the leftover hazardous products that have accumulated in their homes.
The South Wake Multi-Material Recycling Facility, located at 6000 Old Smithfield Road in Apex (off Hwy. 55 bypass, between Apex and Holly Springs), is open the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect household hazardous waste.
What is HHW?
HHW consists of the leftover portion of hazardous products that
were originally purchased for use in the home. HHW includes materials
that are corrosive, reactive, toxic or ignitable. These characteristics
are found in a wide range of products from the following general
categories:
- yard and garden products,
- automotive products;
- paints, stains, and solvents;
- household cleaners; and
- other miscellaneous HHW.
The average American household produces more than 20 pounds of HHW each year. These hazardous wastes can cause health and environmental problems when they are improperly discarded in the trash or poured down the drain.
What should I do with leftover paint?
I’m glad you asked this because over 70% of the materials
received at the Wake County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Centers are latex and oil based paints. Some of this waste can be
avoided with better planning on the front end. First, buy only the
amount of paint that you need, even if a larger amount is better
priced proportionally. As a rule, one gallon of paint covers 300
square feet. For example when painting indoors, a room that is 10
feet by 10 feet with two windows and two doors is about 300 square
feet, so for each coat you need one gallon for the walls and one
quart for the trim. Few jobs really require oil based paint. Most
of the time, top quality water based paint is less expensive and
just as effective. Switch to water based paints when possible because
they are less hazardous.
If you do have leftovers, small amounts of latex paint can be safely disposed of with household garbage. Before it’s tossed, make sure that the paint is completely dried out by mixing in some kitty litter or saw dust, or allowing it to dry out thoroughly in the sun. Paint cans can then be recycled or thrown out with your trash with their lids removed. Paint that you would like to keep should be stored where it will not freeze and turned upside down so it forms a seal over the lid to prevent the paint from drying.
Large amounts of latex paint and all oil based paints that you no longer have a use for should be brought to one of Wake County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers for proper treatment. Wake County sends collected latex paint off site for recycling. Collected oil based paint is either recycled or blended with fuel oil for energy production off site.
How to Reduce the HHW You Generate
The best way to deal with HHW is to avoid creating it. Here are
some specific suggestions:
- Buy only the amount you need, even if a larger container offers a price discount.
- Use up any hazardous products completely, following directions on the label.
- Find someone else who can use your leftovers.
- Recycle if possible. Some stores take used products like automobile batteries for recycling.
- Use multi-purpose cleaners rather than having a full collection of specialized products. Many products will clean a variety of surfaces.
- Try less-toxic alternatives. When buying a product, avoid the ones with the words "poison" or "danger" on the label; products labeled with "warning" or "caution" are less harmful.