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What is hazardous?

Recycle at work    Garbage and recycling    Fork It Over! food donation    What is hazardous?

Wondering what to do with those old paint cans, motor oil and solvents – and how to best dispose of them? Whether you’re a home or business, Metro has 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.

man with needle

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 (CFLs), fluorescent tubes and ballasts
  • mercury containing items such as thermometers and thermostats

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.

Need assistance?

Metro Recycling Information
503-234-3000
mri@oregonmetro.gov
¿Qué tipo de químicos dañinosos existen en su hogar?

Existen muchos productos que empleamos comúnmente en casa que son peligrosos y no deben ser tratados como basura corriente. Nunca vacie productos dañinos en los desagües, las cloacas ni en el suelo y nunca los tire en los basureros.

Información en español

Safer home

There are many less-toxic products that you can use in your home and garden.

By the Numbers

Over 12 million
Pounds of oil-based paint and other flammable products that Metro's hazardous waste collection program has sent to special facilities for energy recovery.

Did you know?

MetroPaint
Metro is able to recycle 80 percent of the paint that we receive. People buy this recycled latex paint and put it back to work on houses, churches and offices.

© 2009 Metro Regional Government. All Rights Reserved.

Contact feedback@oregonmetro.gov with questions regarding this site.

Metro
600 NE Grand Ave.
Portland, OR 97232-2736
503-797-1700
503-797-1804 TDD
503-797-1797 fax