How to recycle / dispose household hazardous waste

This Household Hazardous Waste program is open to Montgomery County residents with home-generated hazardous waste. All patrons must provide proof of residency.

A small business that may generate a small amount of hazardous waste might find it can save time and money on disposal using the ECOWISE program. Also, when a business cleans up a residence and takes possession of household hazardous waste in the process, that waste becomes its hazardous waste and it must pay to dispose of this material through the ECOWISE program, if it meets the program's requirements.

Don't Turn Your Trash Can Into a Fire Hazard

What is household hazardous waste (HHW)?

Hazardous materials have any of these properties

• reactive
• ignitable
• combustible
• toxic, and/or
• corrosive

What materials are accepted as HHW?

Examples of accepted materials include

• acids, such as:
  • hydrochloric acid
  • muriatic acid
  • sulfuric acid
• aerosol cans with remaining hazardous products (discard empty cans as regular trash)
• antifreeze (5 gallon limit)
• batteries - see more battery options
• dry cell and alkaline batteries
• lithium
• lithium-ion
• nickel-cadmium
• lead acid (vehicle)
• uninterruptible power supplies (personal and network)
• tool batteries
• brake fluid (5 gallon limit)
• charcoal containing flammable agents - see more detail about charcoal
• dioxins
• driveway sealant
• drywall mud containing asbestos
• gasoline, gas-oil mixes, flammable liquids, unwanted fuels
• fertilizers
• fluorescent light tubes and bulbs (compact fluorescent lights - CFLs) - see more fluorescent bulb/light options
• fluorescent light ballasts
• herbicides
• insecticides
• mercury-containing items, including thermostats and thermometers
• nail polish - see more nail polish options
• paints
  • see more detail about oil-based paints
• see instructions for disposing latex paints at home
• spray paint cans with remaining paint (discard empty cans as regular trash)
• paint thinners and solvents
• pesticides
• photographic chemicals
• road flares - see more detail about road flares
• swimming pool chemicals
• tar
• tile mastic containing asbestos
• used motor oil, most other oils, hydraulic fluids, kerosene (5 gallon limit) - see more detail about these fluids
• unknowns (items without any type of identification)

If you have over 15 gallons of liquid or 75 pounds of solid wastes, please call the Division of Solid Waste Services at 240-777-6587 to arrange a drop-off.

Smoke alarms are not hazardous waste.

Where and when do I bring my HHW?

The HHW drop-off is located in the Recycling Area of the Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station. Use the Route 355 / Frederick Road entrance to the facility.

The HHW drop-off for residents is open during the Transfer Station's hours of operation. Small businesses must bring material only during our ECOWISE program hours.

How do I dispose of sharps and syringes?

We do not accept medical sharps and syringes at our HHW drop-off. See our medical sharps and syringes page for disposal instructions.

What items are not accepted as hazardous waste?

Materials we cannot accept at our HHW drop-off include

• ammunition
• asbestos
• commercial, industrial or medical wastes
• compressed gas cylinders (examples: acetylene, carbon dioxide, oxygen, propane tanks)
• computers and related electronics
• explosives
• kepones
• medical sharps and syringes
• shock-sensitive materials
• radioactive materials
  • Contact the State of Maryland, Department of the Environment, Office of Radiological Health at 410-631-3300 for more information.
• televisions