What is household hazardous waste?
Many products that we purchase daily can become waste when it is no longer useful to us. By reading the label, you can find many cleaners, pesticides, paints, stains and personal care products that fall into this category of being hazardous. Some key words to look for are "warning," "caution," "flammable," "toxic," and "poison."  Household hazardous waste (HHW) is stored in garages, basements and other areas in homes all over Michigan. By having a collection program in your community, you can remove this threat to your family’s safety and the environment by clearing out barns, garages, attics, etc, and using local HHW collection programs.

Why is household hazardous waste a concern?
In many communities, waste haulers do not allow their customers to dispose of HHW in their trash. Even where disposal options exist, residents are often unaware of them. HHW collection programs provide both safe disposal options and information about what is hazardous, why, and how to avoid needing to dispose of these materials in the first place.

How can you prevent household hazardous waste?

• Check the label before you buy. If you see a cautionary notice, understand that this material will become household hazardous waste if not used up properly.
• Use the product as the manufacturer instructs. Companies have spent millions of dollars testing their product to comply with federal regulations. The instructions should be followed to get maximum benefit from the products you use without compromising your safety.
• Buy only what you need. Surprisingly, some products cost more to dispose of than they cost to purchase. Using forethought when purchasing these products may save your community the cost of disposing of them as HHW
• Store products for safety. Children, pets, and others may accidentally injure themselves when products are not safety stored. Make sure potential HHW products are stored out of harm's way.

For information about proper handling of household hazardous waste, contact your local HHW collection program office, recycling coordinator, wastewater treatment plant or department of public works.