The average household in the US contains 15 pounds of hazardous products such as pesticides, cleaners, paints, and other chemicals. Using and disposing of these products properly is crucial to maintaining the health of our bodies and our environment. HHW can be found in and around the home:

House: Filled aerosol cans; adhesives, glues, resins; cleaners, spot removers, polishes; photo chemicals; chemistry sets, oven, drain toilet cleaners; hobby/artist supplies; moth balls; flea collar products.

Garage or Shed: Fuels, gasoline, kerosene; engine degreaser; brake fluid; carburetor cleaner; car polish; pool chemicals. Pesticides; insecticides; fungicides; poisons; chemical fertilizers; weed killers.

Workbench: Oil-based paints; wood preservatives; paint strippers/thinners; solvents/varnishes; lighter fluid; sealants.

The best approach to managing hazardous products in the home is to:

• Minimize the use of hazardous products and look for alternatives
• Read labels carefully
• Buy only what you need
• Use according to directions
• Store products safely
• Use up the products or share what is left over

Some products, which may have been considered hazardous in the past, can now be disposed of with the regular trash. These include:

• Alkaline batteries made since 1994 (AAA, AA, C, D and 9 volt)
• Smoke detectors
• Latex paint (dry it out with sand or kitty litter, or purchase a hardener from a hardware store) OR bring usable (less than 3 years old) paint to the Latex Paint Exchange
• Soiled bandages in plastic bags, securely fastened
• Driveway sealer (latex or oil based, with lid off)

Call Customer Service at: (617) 796-1000 to schedule an appointment. 

Location: Resource Recovery Center

Drop-offs of household hazardous waste are not accepted outside of these designated collection times.

*weather dependent, please visit this website during times of extreme weather (heat, rain, snow)

Guidelines

• Accepted Materials List – Now available in simplified Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese
• Newton residents only – Proof of residency is required.
• No more than 5-gallons of a single material and no more than 12-gallons total.
• No latex paint is accepted – If water is the top ingredient listed, it is latex paint. If clean up can be done with soap and water, it is latex paint. For unusable latex paint - dry it out, put it in a bag, and toss it out with household trash.
• Commercial vehicles will not be allowed access to the HHW collection - use a personal vehicle when seeking access to this residential program.

Private Sector HHW Drop-Off Collection Options

If you are unable to attend Household Hazardous Waste events held at the Resource Recovery Center, you will need to contact a licensed Hazardous Waste handler.

Clean Harbors accepts Household Hazardous Waste year-round for a fee at 1 Hill Ave, Braintree, MA. Call 781-380-7175 for drop off rates, specific dates, and times.

New England Disposal Technologies drop off centers in Sutton and Westfield accept HHW from residents for a fee.

Sharps, Needles & Lancets

Sharps, such as needles, lancets and epi-pens, are accepted year-round during regular hours at the Resource Recovery Center.

How to Prepare Sharps for Disposal:

• Do not place loose sharps in the trash
• Place sharps in a red medical waste container or puncture proof container such as a detergent bottle. Red containers are available at most pharmacies
• Use the container until it is nearly fill and then tightly close the lid and tape it so sharps cannot spill out
• Milk jugs, coffee cans (due to the flimsy plastic lid) and other plastic bottles are unacceptable.

Next, bring the entire container to the Resource Recovery Center.

DO NOT bring loose sharps to the Resource Recovery Center.

Medication

Unused and expired prescription medications are accepted at:

• Kiosk in the Newton Police Department at 1321 Washington St.
• City Hall (entrance near the fountain) at 1000 Commonwealth Ave.

All over-the-counter medications and vitamins are best disposed in the trash.

If you have any questions about medication disposal, contact the Newton Human Health & Services department at (617) 796-1420.