What is Your Hazardous Household Rating?

Paint and stains are one of the most common yet hazardous substances found in homes. Be on the lookout for oil-based paints that contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, or cadmium. Latex paint becomes unusable when frozen. When opening paints and stains, do so in a well-ventilated area, as they may contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs)! Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Including oil-based and latex paint, stains, and finishes, how many cans do you have sitting at home?

Gardening often requires the help of pesticides and herbicides! Unfortunately, these kinds of containers can’t be recycled, even when thoroughly washed! Make sure to store opened containers well out of reach of children and pets. Check to see if the product is unregistered or banned: if so, discontinue use immediately. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

How many bottles, bags, and sprayers do you have sitting around collecting dust? This includes pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides of all kinds.

Unused, outdated, or broken electronics – otherwise known as eWaste – contain hazardous levels of toxic materials, such as lead and mercury. If improperly disposed of in a landfill, these materials can pollute groundwater and lead to serious environmental and health concerns. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Do you have any old computer monitors or tube TVs at home? What about outdated or broken electronics (eWaste) such as VCRs, kitchen tools, computers, or cell phones?

Regularly maintaining your car leaves you with many leftover hazardous products and waste. These automotive fluids should never be poured down the drain or into the trash. Antifreeze, in particular, should be stored well out of reach of children and animals due to its sweet taste and colors. If you have a receipt, you can return used oil for recycling to the store where you purchased it. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

How much motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, and other automotive fluids do you have?

Modern fluorescent bulbs boast impressive lifespans and low energy usage. Fluorescent bulbs and tubes contain small amounts of mercury, which can cause toxic vapor leakage into the environment when the glass breaks. Make sure you repackage bulbs and tubes into their original packaging or use another means of safe storage before disposal. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Between fluorescent and older burnt-out bulbs and tubes at home, how many do you need to recycle?

Hand soap or dishwashing detergent is one thing, but strong and corrosive cleaners are a hazard to you and the environment. Read the warning labels of your cleaning products to make sure you’re using, handling, and storing them correctly. Many should only be used in well-ventilated places. Read instructions for disposal: many could damage containers or pipes. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Do you have corrosive cleaning products, carpet cleaners, bleach, furniture cleaners or polish, paint solvents and thinners, or acids?

From the tiniest button battery to two-handed car batteries, chances are you have dead or non-rechargeable batteries sitting around corroding. Most alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries made after 1994 contain little or no mercury and are safe for disposal, but button batteries contain this toxic material. Similarly, rechargeable ones usually contain the cancer-causing toxic metal cadmium. Lithium batteries are also reactive to water, and automotive batteries are banned from landfills in MA. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Including batteries from devices you no longer use (phones, laptops, etc.), how many do you have? Car batteries count as double!

From bug spray to spray paint, aerosol cans can contain a wide array of propellants and chemicals that are dangerous for handling or disposal. Cans may contain propellants that can explode if crushed or if exposed to heat. Aerosol cans should always be used in well-ventilated spaces. Look for a warning label on the product. Art materials are non-toxic if the label reads AP (approved product), CP (certified product), or HL (health label). Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

How many unused or empty aerosol cans do you have?

Many adhesives contain toxic solvents that can cause harm through inhalation or skin contact. Make sure to read labels for health warnings. Glues and adhesives will generally be deemed safe if marked with AP (approved product), CP (certified product), or HL (health label). Do not empty adhesives and sealants down the drain or into the garbage. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Do you have driveway or tree sealant, epoxy, superglue, commercial grade-glue, or other strong or toxic adhesives?

From grills to lawnmowers, these substances are essential to all homes, but spoiled gas or orphaned propane tanks often require proper disposal. Don’t dump gasoline down the drain or into the trash, and avoid mixing it with other automotive fluids. Similarly, don’t dispose of empty containers in the trash, as they're still combustible at that point. Intact propane containers can often be returned to their manufacturer or at store pickups. Learn more on our Fact Sheets!

Do you have old gasoline containers or gas, large propane containers, or smaller camping stove varieties?