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What is hazardous?

Garbage and recycling  ›  Guide to hazardous waste  ›  What is hazardous?

Wondering which home and garden products are hazardous and what to do with them? Metro has two drop-off centers to take your hazardous waste.

Many household products you use in your yard and home can hurt people, fish and wildlife if used or disposed of incorrectly. You may be surprised at the products in your home that have the words "warning" and "caution" or even "poison" on the label. You should never dispose of your household toxic trash down the sink, on the ground, down a storm drain or in your garbage can.

Bring these kinds of items to Metro's neighborhood collection events or permanent facilities for disposal:

• paints and stains
• pool and spa chemicals
• pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and poisons
• motor oil, antifreeze and other automotive fluids
• thinners and solvents
• household cleaners and disinfectants
• batteries
• art and hobby chemicals
• aerosol spray products
• sharps (medical syringes)
• propane tanks or bottles from barbecue grills
• compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs, fluorescent tubes and ballasts (up to 12 tubes will be accepted at neighborhood collection events)
• mercury-containing items such as thermometers and thermostats

Please prepare materials properly before bringing them in... Learn how

Metro recycles most of what it collects and disposes of the rest in a landfill specially designed for hazardous waste. Metro recycles latex paint and sells it in 5-gallon pails and 1-gallon cans.

What can you do?

You can choose to use less-toxic products in your home and garden. By learning about and trying alternative garden and yard care methods, you'll reduce your need to use pesticides and fertilizers.

If you live in Oregon outside Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington counties, call 1-800-RECYCLE for household hazardous waste event information in your community.

Businesses that generate hazardous waste

If your business generates a small amount of hazardous waste, you may be eligible to dispose of hazardous waste at a designated Metro facility via the Conditionally Exempt Generator program. Learn more

Related Links

Preparing hazardous materials

How to prepare and bring household hazardous waste to Metro events and hazardous waste facilities.