RRRASOC - The Recycling Authority : Household Hazardous Waste

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average U.S. household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste (HHW) per year. HHW includes a variety of common household items such as cleaners, paints, herbicides, insecticides, and solvents that exhibit the characteristics of regulated hazardous wastes such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. Most would have to be treated as federally regulated hazardous waste if not from a household.

HHW can pose risks to people and the environment when not handled and disposed of properly. Because of the nature of the material, it is generally viewed as inappropriate to handle the material with other residential solid waste. Ineffective, inappropriate, or illicit handling and disposal can lead to the material finding its way into our sanitary sewers, storm sewers, lakes, streams, rivers, and ground water. As such, it can cause adverse impacts on plants and animals. More importantly, it can endanger the health of the people with whom it comes into contact.

RRRASOC, in cooperation with its Member Communities, has established a series of annual collection events designed to facilitate the collection and recycling of HHW. While many communities throughout the state and country provide little or no opportunity for residents to properly dispose of HHW, residents within the RRRASOC communities have access to five annual events held throughout the year.

RRRASOC can also provide residents with alternative suggestions for recycling or disposing of HHW outside of those events. Check our Recycling Reference Guide or contact us for more information about alternatives.

RRRASOC and its Member Communities work with Environmental Recycling Group (formerly called SQS) to safely collect and dispose of Household Hazardous Waste. Secure document destruction is provided by Shred-Corp.