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Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Options

Table 1 provides disposal options for products commonly found in your house

Product Rejuvenate and use Save for collection Dilute and flush Stabilize for trash
Ammonia-based cleaning products   Preferred How to  
Ammunition (contact local law enforcement for disposal)        
Animal and vegetable oil       How to
Asbestos       How to
Bases (includes drain cleaner, oven cleaner, bleach and lye)   Preferred How to  
Batteries (alkaline)       Trash
Batteries (including nickel-cadmium (ni-cad), nickel metal hydride (ni-mh), lithium (li) and small sealed lead-acid (Pb)   Preferred 1    
Bleach-based cleaning products   Preferred How to  
Computers, TVs and other electronics   Preferred    
Drain cleaner   Preferred How to  
Medications   Preferred   How to
Needles and sharps   Preferred   How to
Photographic processing chemicals   Preferred How to  
Smoke detector       How to
Thermometer   Preferred   How to
Thermostat   Preferred 2   How to

1  Some retailers are corporate participants in the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) program to recycle rechargeable batteries including Batteries Plus, Best Buy, Cingular Wireless, Circuit City, Home Depot, Lowes, RadioShack, Sears, Staples, Target, Verizon and Wal-mart.  Contact retailers in your area to determine if they participate in this program.

2  Some heating and air conditioning (HVAC) wholesalers, distributors and contractors participate in the Thermostat Recycling Corporation's thermostat recycling program.  Contact HVAC businesses in your area to determine if they participate in this program or visit our list of participating facilities. 

 

Table 2 provides disposal options for products commonly found in your garage

Product Rejuvenate and use Save for collection Dilute and flush Stabilize for trash
Acids (includes muriatic and hydrochloric)   Preferred How to  
Antifreeze   Preferred How to  
Automotive batteries (lead-acid)   Preferred 3    
Brake fluid   Preferred 4   How to
Degreasers   Preferred   How to
Fireworks (contact local law enforcement for disposal)       How to
Fuel (includes gasoline, diesel, kerosene and two-stroke oil/gasoline mixtures) Preferred - How to Preferred   How to
Motor oil   Preferred 5   How to
Oil filters       How to
Paint   Preferred   How to
Paint stripper   Preferred   How to
Paint thinner Preferred - How to Preferred   How to
Propane cylinders and canisters   Preferred    
Solvent-contaminated rags       How to
Solvents   Preferred   How to
Stains   Preferred   How to
Transmission fluids   Preferred 4   How to
Wood preservatives   Preferred   How to

3  Automotive lead-acid batteries are often accepted by major battery retailers because of their monetary value when recycled.  A credit may be given on the purchase of a new battery if you turn in your old battery.

4  Brake fluid and transmission oil can be mixed with used motor oil and recycled.

5  Local service stations offering oil changing services, specialty oil changing service facilities and some auto parts retailers may accept up to five (5) gallons of uncontaminated used motor oil for recycling as a service to their customers.  Always call first before bringing oil to a potential recycling site.  Do not abandon used oil or other wastes at these facilities after hours or you may be prosecuted for illegal disposal.  Do not mix used antifreeze or water with used oil.

 

Table 3 provides disposal options for products commonly used in your yard.

Product Rejuvenate and use Save for collection Dilute and flush Stabilize for trash
Fertilizer   Preferred   How to
Pesticides (includes herbicides, fumigants, insecticides, nemacides, fungicides, miticides, rodenticides, termiticides, molluscides, acaricides, bird repellents, and some wood preservatives)   Preferred   How to
Swimming pool and hot tub chemicals   Preferred   How to

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