Public Works & Utilities >> Solid Waste >> Household Hazardous Waste


Recycling/Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW):

This is a graphic of a cabinet full of household hazardous waste products


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Reducing Use of Hazardous Chemicals:


What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Reading the label of a product is the easiest way to determine if it is hazardous. If a label has one or more of the following terms, it is a hazardous product:

  • caution
  • warning
  • danger
  • poison
  • keep out of reach of children
  • fatal if swallowed
  • if swallowed call a physician or 911.
  • hazardous
  • harmful
  • fatal

Examples of household hazardous waste products, include, but are not limited to:

aerosol cans with product in can glues
all-purpose cleaning products insect repellents
antifreeze mercury themometers
batteries motor oil
bleach oil-based paint
carpet/upholstery cleaner oven cleaner
degreasers paint thinner
drain cleaners polishes (shoe, furniture, brass)
flea collars rust remover
floor wax toilet cleaners
fluorescent light bulbs weed killer


There are two facilities for Pierce County residents to dispose of their household hazardous waste, free of charge:

The Hidden Valley Transfer Station:

  • Located at: 17925 Meridian Street East on South Hill, Puyallup.
  • Days Open: The household hazardous waste facility is open Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  • Hours: from 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (closed 12 - 1 p.m.).

Tacoma Hazardous Waste Collection Facility.

  • Located at: 3510 South Mullen, Tacoma.
  • Days Open: seven days a week.
  • Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • You must show proof of county residency to use this facility (a WA State driver's license).
  • Household hazardous waste disposal is not available for businesses. Call the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department's Hazardous Waste Hotline at
    1-800-287-6429 for information on properly disposing of industrial hazardous waste.
Materials Accepted Materials NOT accepted
Antifreeze 55-gallon drums
Automotive products latex paint
Cooking Oil asbestos
Flammable liquids biological waste
Fluorescent light bulbs compressed-gas containers
Glues explosives
Household Cleaners radioactive materials
Motor oil (used) waste produced by businesses
Ni-cad batteries
Oil-based paints
Pet insecticides (pet products)
Yard & Garden chemicals


Photo of can of paint.

Latex paint
is water based and generally not hazardous. Landfills and garbage haulers cannot accept latex paint in liquid form; it must be hardened. Place latex paint in the garbage after the liquid has hardened, and leave the lid off.

If you have a little paint left in the can, you can speed the drying process by mixing in an absorbent, such as concrete or cement mix, kitty litter, or thinly cut strips of newspaper.

If the paint can is too full to add an absorbent, line a cardboard box with a plastic bag, pour in paint and mix with an absorbent.

Oil-based paint
must be disposed of at either of the Hazardous Waste Facilities (Tacoma or Hidden Valley).


Photo of various batteries.
  • Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt) batteries can be disposed of in the trash.
  • Rechargeable batteries and button batteries (commonly found in watches, cameras, calculators, cell phones, camcorders, etc.) contain heavy metals and are hazardous. Take to the either hazardous waste facility (Tacoma or Hidden Valley) or any of the businesses listed in Pierce County's Recycling & Disposal Resource Guide


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Content Last Updated Jul 9 2008 8:19AM
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