Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

Selling your home? Cleaning out your garage? Spring cleaning? Bring your household hazardous waste (HHW) to your local HHW collection event or permanent facility.

Use this visual aid to identify HHW items in your home and how to dispose of them safely.

We use hazardous products every day in our homes. These products become a hazard when improper use or disposal cause a threat to the environment or human health. Some examples of HHW include:

• Automotive products (antifreeze, car batteries, motor oil, gasoline/diesel fuel)
• Cleaners and solvents.
• Drain and oven cleaners.
• Lead fishing weights.
• Moth balls.
• Paints, stains, and varnishes.
• Pesticides and herbicides.
• Polishes and waxes.
• Rechargeable batteries.

These common household products have hazardous properties. The properties that make these products hazardous are:

• Flammable: Easily set on fire or ignited.  
• Corrosive/Caustic: Burn and destroy living tissue on contact. 
• Explosive/Reactive: Detonate or explode by exposure to heat, sudden shock or pressure.  
• Toxic/Poison: Capable of causing injury or death through ingestion, inhalation or absorption through the skin.

Questions?

Households and municipalities should contact the NHDES HHW Program via email hhw@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-2047. Learn more about hazardous waste.

Are you a business? Visit our webpage for small/full quantity generators.

Visit our Managing My Waste page to learn about other types of household waste.