What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) or Household Hazardous Materials (HHM) are household products that are, well, hazardous! This includes products that are flammable, corrosive, explosive, toxic, or the like (2018 EPA).

What qualifies as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?

To know if a product is HHW, first check the label for the words flammable, corrosive, toxic, explosive, or any other phrase that makes you think twice about safety. Then, check the disposal instructions. If it says something like “this item may need special disposal” or “check with your local sanitation department for disposal instructions,” it’s probably HHW.

For reference, some common HHWs include:

Batteries

Incandescent/Fluorescent Bulbs
Pesticides
Garden Chemicals
Muriatic Acid
Televisions
Oil-based paint and stains
Paint Thinner and Varnish

Grout

Oil, Gasoline
Aerosols
E-Waste
Household Cleaners
Flammable Liquids
Pool Shock

Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste

HHW must be disposed of at a specific hazardous waste site. Most municipalities have programs to collect HHW from residents.

In Orleans Parish, some HHW like lightbulbs, e-waste and batteries are collected bi-monthly at the City’s 2nd & 4th Saturday Recycling Drop-off events. Everything else must be dropped off at your parish’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection day (scroll down for dates)

Reducing Household Hazardous Waste

One way to avoid the headache of properly disposing of HHW is to purchase products that are non-hazardous. Look for items that are non-toxic, not flammable or corrosive, or that can be recycled or thrown away in your curbside trash. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice database can help you identify better, safer options.