Spring Cleaning Hazardous Disposal Tips

With warmer weather on the way, now is the best time to get your household back in shape and ready for upcoming projects by cleaning it out. This does pose a real problem however, as many of the things you no longer want cannot be easily disposed of. Here are a few tips for getting rid of those things you can’t easily (or legally at least) throw into a dumpster.

Paint:

Most house paints contain toxic materials that are dangerous to simply throw out, however many places allow you to dispose of DRY paint as you would any other refuse. If you have a lot of paint that you no longer have a place for, consider mixing in a paint hardener.

Oil:

Sadly there is no hardener of old or used oil, though many oil change centers will take it. If you call around, you should be able to find a location that can dispose of it for you.

Batteries:

For smaller, household batteries (AA, AAA, 9V, etc), many retailers of electronics will recycle them for you. As for car batteries, most locations that sell them will allow you to return them for proper disposal.

Fertilizers and Cleaning Products:

These are a bit harder to rid yourself of. If you are unable to find someone who could use them, you will want to research where your nearest Household Hazardous Waste Facility is.

Shelving or Furniture:

If you are unable to give it away and you are unable to leave it on the curb, you still have a few options. If you have access to a dumpster or dump site, you can dismantle it. If you are able to dismantle it to the point that the left over parts can be bagged and put into a trash receptacle, than in most cases it can be disposed of as standard trash. Some regions with trash pick-up can take away full furniture objects; check the website for the city/county you live in for further info.

Electronics: