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Recycling & Disposal Resources Guide
We accept many HHW items at our collection events, but there are others that are outside of our scope. This guide provides tips on:
- How to properly recycle and (where recycling is not an option) dispose of some of these other common household items
- Alternate outlets for items that we do accept if you can’t make it to a SW PA HHW Task Force collection event
HHW Type |
Resources |
Ammunition |
Local, county or state police |
Appliances |
Non-freon-containing
Bulk item disposal—local trash collectors, municipality, scrap metal dealers.
Freon-containing
A U.S. EPA-licensed technician must remove the freon and attach a required tag to the appliance. The item may then be disposed of as a non-freon containing appliance (as above).
EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program
Appliance Recycling Program for Allegheny County residents
Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling Program for Duquesne Light customers
The Appliance Warehouse (Pittsburgh, PA) accepts the items at no charge
Construction Junction accepts Freon-containing appliances, but there is a fee of $10.00 per appliance. All other appliances are accepted free of charge.
The Green Guide to Recycling Appliances and Electronics
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Automotive Products |
Car batteries
Advanced Auto Parts sponsors a free battery-recycling program. Check with them for further information.
Car batteries can also be returned to the seller- they are required by law to accept them.
Motor Oil
Advance Auto Parts locations throughout the region accept used oil free of charge.
Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Centers and Jiffy Lube also accept oil in many locations.
Always check with your local automotive service suppliers regarding their policies and programs. Many will take used motor oil as long as it has not been contaminated with any other substance (such as water or other motor fluids). Additional information is available from the American Petroleum Institute.
Information on the importance of used oil recycling from Earth911
Other Automotive Fluids
DEP Recycling Hotline: 1-800-346-4242
Tires
EPA on scrap tires & disposal
Liberty Tire Recycling consumer drop-off program
There are several ways to dispose of used tires properly:
- Return them to the place of purchase or any reputable tire dealer-a fee is usually charged for this service
- Take used tires to a local tire collection event for disposal
- Call your county or local solid waste transfer station/landfill and ask if they accept used tires or know of a place that accepts them.
- Contact your county or local recycling center and ask if they accept used tires
Tip: Reduce Your Tire Usage
If everyone helps out just a little, major progress can be made toward reducing the total amount of used tires generated. Things you can do to help include:
- Purchase tires with longer tread life
- Rotate your tires every 4,000 miles
- Balance your tires when you rotate them
- Check for/inflate tires to recommended air pressure levels once a month or before every long trip
- Use public transportation and carpool
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Batteries
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Household
We accept typical household batteries (9-volts, AA, D, etc.) at HHW collections, but there are some additional disposal options:
Tip: Prevention of Household Battery Waste
To reduce waste, start with prevention. Starting with prevention creates less or no leftover waste to become potentially hazardous waste. The following are steps to take to prevent household battery waste.
- Check to see if you already have the batteries on hand before buying more
- Buy hand-operated items that function without batteries whenever possible
- Look for batteries that have less mercury and heavy metals
- Consider rechargeable batteries as applicable, but remember that they also contain heavy metals such as nickel-cadmium
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Bulk waste / Building Materials
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Construction/remodeling/demolition waste—contact local landfill for disposal information.
Re-useable building materials can be donated to Pittsburgh’s Construction Junction. |
Cell phones |
Cell Phones and Rechargeable Batteries
Tip: It’s a good idea to erase all personal information from your cell phone prior to donating.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on cell phone recycling
Donation options:
EPA on cell phone recycling (great list of recycling options!)
Many local abuse shelters will accept useable (non-broken) cell phones, which they program to dial “911” for use by potential abuse victims for their protection. Visit ShelterHelp.org and Wirelessfoundation.org for additional information.
www.CCICenter.org (Pittsburgh)
Staples
http://www.rbrc.org/call2recycle/dropoff/index.php
http://www.collectivegood.com/ (donation by mail)
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| CDs & DVDs |
Although recycling for CDs and DVDs is not yet widespread, there are some options available.
The The Compact Disc Recycling Center of America (NH) will recycle them free of charge if you ship them at your cost:
The same goes for CD Recycling Central (CA):
GreenDisk also has a variety of programs for a fee:
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Compressed gas cylinders (including propane tanks)
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Blue Rhino Tank Exchange- found at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Get-Go, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.
Local: Welding supply companies—Jackson Welding, etc.
LNG, LPG supply companies—AGWAY, Air Products, BOC, etc.
Many businesses that sell compressed gas cylinders and some metal recyclers accept empty gas tanks for recycling- check your local listings. |
Corrugated
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If curbside recycling is not available in your area, please visit www.Earth911.org for recycling options.
www.corrugated.org |
E-waste (computers, TVs, DVD players, etc.)
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Tip: It’s a good idea to erase all personal information from your personal computer or laptop prior to donating.
Best Buy
Costco.com Trade-In Program
Educational Assistance Ltd. also has a donation program for computers- as well as many other items
Goodwill Industries has a free recycling program for computer equipment- Reconnect Parntership
Staples has recycling programs for the following (large items require a fee, smaller peripherals such as keyboards, mice and speakers are free):
- E-waste (computers, monitors, laptops, and desktop printers, faxes and all–in–ones- fee involved)
- Ink and Toner Cartridges
Waste Management Think Green program
Earth 911 on television disposal
Many local TV repair shops will take obsolete TVs for parts.
You can also try calling local metal recyclers who will often take TVs for scrap metal.
Many counties operate electronics recycling programs or know of local collections taking place throughout the year. Contact your local county coordinator for information.
The Green Guide to Recycling Appliances and Electronics
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Explosives |
Local, county or state police/bomb squad |
Fire extinguishers & Flares |
Local fire departments |
Household Chemicals |
SW PA HHW Collection Events
Household Products Database
Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) |
Industrial/commercial waste |
Hazardous
Contact HHW contractor from Business-to-Business yellow pages under “Environmental Services.”
Non-Hazardous
Contact local landfill or waste hauling companies for disposal information. |
Light Bulbs
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Incandescent (or “regular”) Light Bulbs
Incandescent bulbs are not recyclable. They contain no mercury and can be disposed of in normal residential trash. To prevent injury due to broken glass, wrap the bulb in newspaper prior to placing it in the household trash container.
Fluorescent Lighting
Households produce numerous “burned-out” lamp bulbs and tubes every year. Due to the use of elemental mercury in fluorescent and neon fixtures and the increased concern over mercury exposure, disposal of these tubes is of particular concern to residents.
When someone mentions fluorescent lighting, most people think of long glass tubing, either straight or bent into a “U” shape, normally white in color and in 4-foot or 8-foot lengths. They can be labeled T-12, T-8, etc. This class also includes “black light” tubes and bulbs.
The mercury content of tubes with green or pink aluminum end caps and those labeled “low mercury,” “environmentally safe” and similar markings can be placed into residential waste streams. It is always a good safety measure to wrap them in newspaper and secure with tape to protect the public and trash haulers.
Tubes with different colored ends may contain high levels of mercury that could leach into the environment. PA DEP on recycling fluorescent tubes
If no better options are available, residents are permitted to dispose of these tubes in their normal waste containers for landfill disposal.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)
CFLs contain mercury and should be disposed of properly. Your household garbage is not the correct disposal method!
If you can’t bring your CFLs to a SW PA HHW Task Force event, free nationwide recycling programs are available:
Cleanup procedure for a broken CFL
Pittsburgh, PA region disposal outlets:
- Sierra Club Pittsburgh Chapter accepts CFLs free of charge
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Scott Electric is a commercial lighting company that accepts quite a few items for a fee:
- Individuals can walk-in small quantities of materials at each of their locations. Please call the location nearest you for fee schedules and additional information.
- Sylvania sponsors a similar program through the mail, but there are fees involved.
To locate the closest recycling centers to your home that accept CFLs, check www.earth911.org and www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling.
If you live in Pennsylvania and have questions regarding recycling and disposal of CFLs, please contact your County Recycling Coordinator.
If your local waste management agency offers no other disposal options except your household garbage, place the CFL in a plastic bag and seal it before putting it in the trash. If your waste agency incinerates its garbage, you should search a wider geographic area for proper disposal options. Never send a CFL or other mercury-containing product to an incinerator!
Additional information on CFLs:
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Medical waste
EPA on Medical Waste Programs and Regulations |
Sharps (needles, lancets, etc.)
NEVER PLACE SHARPS OR NEEDLES IN YOUR RECYCLING BIN!
Place in metal or impregnable plastic and seal with duct tape; the sharps or needles can then be disposed of with your household trash.
PA DEP on hazardous waste
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Mercury-containing Items
| Quantities of Mercury greater than those found in household thermometers and small switches should be stored in tightly sealed containers. The PA DEP will collect these quantities - simply call
412-442-4000 and ask for the Emergency Response Program. This only applies to mercury from households and schools - businesses need to utilize a mercury recycler.
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Paint
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Latex
Latex paint is not a hazardous waste. It can be mixed with kitty litter, dried and disposed of with your household trash.
Oil-based
These are hazardous and should be disposed of properly. Oil-based paint can be brought to local HHW events. |
Pesticides
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The PA Department of Agriculture's Chemsweep Pesticide Disposal Program includes products such as insecticides, weed killers, fungicides, rodent baits, swimming pool chlorination products, wood preservatives, disinfectants, plant growth regulators, etc.
Growers, pesticide applicators and licensed pesticide businesses in selected Pennsylvania counties are eligible for CHEMSWEEP each year. Homeowners are eligible to dispose of waste pesticides through CHEMSWEEP by participating in county-sponsored HHW collection events (check with your county Solid Waste Authority for details).
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Pharmaceuticals/Prescription Drugs/Personal Care Products |
The environmental impacts of and proper disposal methods for pharmaceutical and personal care products is an emerging issue. For more information on this subject and a link to the Federal government's current disposal guidelines, please visit the EPA's Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products website.
Product Stewardship Institute |
Polypropylene Plastic Caps (#5) |
Recycle Caps with AVEDA Program |
Radioactive Materials |
Call your nearest PA DEP office and ask to speak with someone in Radiation. |
Smoke Detectors |
General Information
Many companies will take back their obsolete smoke detectors- contact the manufacturer for details
Residential
One smoke detector per week can be placed into your home trash.
Non-Residential
Contact manufacturer or distributor for details.
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Solvents
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Used solvents such as paint thinner and turpentine and be filtered with cheese cloth, the filtrate dried and disposed of and the liquid used again. This must be done in a well-ventilated area away from any sources of ignition. |
Disclaimer: The Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) and the Southwest Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force (SW PA HHW TF) have provided this information in good faith.
Website addresses and other information are provided solely for convenience and ease of reference. PRC and SW PA HHW TF disclaim all responsibility for the content and accuracy of information available through such websites or for the continuing accuracy of website addresses, which may change over time and without notice.
PRC and SW PA HHW TF do not make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represent that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Information presented in this guide is considered public information and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. Some of the information on this server may contain live references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that PRC and SW PA HHW TF do not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness or accuracy of these outside materials.
PRC and SW PA HHW TF welcome suggestions on how to improve this guide and correct errors.
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