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Frequently Asked Questions How should HHW be managed? The best method of managing Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is to prevent its generation in the first place. This involves selecting the least toxic item "to do the job" and buying only the minimum amounts necessary. Buying in large quantities is not a bargain if half of it ultimately needs to be discarded. If the material is still usable (e.g., undamaged, still within designated shelf life), check with friends and neighbors to see if they could use it.) Check with community groups such as Little League, Habitat for Humanity, etc. to see if they can use the product. What kinds of HHW do you take at collection events? We accept nearly every chemical product found in the bathroom, kitchen, basement, garage, garden shed, or workshop. These include:
If you have questions about specific products, please call the HHW hotline at (412) 488-7452. Are there products or items that you DO NOT ACCEPT at collection events? We DO NOT ACCEPT the following: Ammunition, appliances, prescription or non-prescription drugs, compressed gas cylinders (including propane tanks), radioactive materials/smoke detectors, explosives, flares, fluorescent tubes, leaking containers, industrial/commercial waste, bulk waste, medical waste or tires. For information on how to properly recycle or dispose of items we cannot accept, please refer to our "Other HHW/Hard to recycle/Hard to dispose of" Resource Guide. If you have questions about specific products, please call the HHW hotline at (412) 488-7452. You can also contact you local County Recycling Coordinator for further information about recycling or disposal. Please note that we cannot accept leaky containers! Tip: To avoid spills and damage to your vehicle, never put leaky containers into your car!
The price for disposal of HHW is $2.00 per gallon. We do our best to properly estimate the volume of waste that you bring to our events, but this is by no means an exact science! Please remember that the $2.00 charge is nominal, and simply helps to subsidize our costs; it does not cover them. We are a non-profit organization providing a valuable community service to Southwestern PA. How do I get to an upcoming event? Please visit the following websites for driving directions: Yahoo! Maps http://maps.yahoo.com Is latex paint considered a HHW? Latex paint is not a hazardous waste, but paints—both latex and oil-based products— can pollute groundwater, so never throw liquid paint products into your trash. Since latex paint is not hazardous, it can be disposed with regular waste if you first:
Oil-based paint, stains and varnishes are hazardous and should be taken to a waste collection event. HHW Contact: Michael Stepaniak | Phone: 412.488.7452 | Email: michaels@ccicenter.org |