Environmental Services
Household HazMat
| It is ILLEGAL to dump hazardous materials on the ground or down storm sewers. Please call (703) 558-2222 to report violations. |
What are Household Hazardous Materials (HHM)?
- HHM are products found in the home that are flammable, corrosive, poisonous or potentially hazardous
- HHM products typically found in the kitchen, bathroom, workshop or garage contain hazardous ingredients which post human health and environmental risks when managed improperly
- Household electronics, such as TVs and computers, often contain hazardous and toxic materials that pose environmental risks if they are taken to a landfill or incinerated
HHM Facility and Electronics Collection and Recycling Center (ECRC)
Water Pollution Control Plant
530 31st St. S. (WPCP Gate #3)
Hours:
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Except during major holidays and biannual E-CARE events)
By appointment Monday - Friday, (703) 228-6832
- The HHM Facility and ERCR is open to Arlington County residents and County employees
- HHM drop-off facility does not accept business or commercial hazardous materials
- Residents may call (703) 228-6832 for HHM inquiries or to confirm acceptability of their materials
What's Accepted for HHM Drop-Off
The HHM Facility accepts most solid, liquid, compressed gas and aerosol products typically used in the home that are flammable, corrosive or poisonous. There is no charge to Arlington residents for HHM drop-off.
- Product labels with signal words, such as danger, warning, or caution, followed by a statement of the principle hazard(s) ("combustible," "caustic," "toxic") are indications you han an HHM requiring precautionary measuring during its use and proper waste management disposed
For more details, look up your item on our Where Does It Go? chart >>
Don't see your item or still have questions about disposal? Call (703) 228-6832.
What's Accepted for Electronics Drop-Off
The ECRC accepts most consumer electronics for recycling. CRT computer monitors are accepted for a $15 recycling fee and CRT TVs for a $20 recycling fee due at the time of drop-off. All other electronics are accepted free of charge.
- Electronics products often contain toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, which are typically found in cathode ray tubes (CRTs), printed circuit boards, batteries, relays, and switches. Also, capacitors in some types of older and larger equipment may contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
For more details, look up your item on our Where Does It Go? chart >>
Latex Paint
If the can is less than 25% full of latex paint, it may be solidified at home by the resident for disposal via curbside trash collection. For the home disposal process, you should wear old clothing, gloves and eye protection. Work in a well ventilated area. Add kitty litter to the open latex paint cans. Stir in enough cat litter to achieve a very thick paste. Place latex cans at the curb for trash collection. If the can is more than 25% full of latex paint, arrange for drop off at the HHM facility.
Mercury
Each mercury thermometer contains one gram of mercury, enough to contaminate a 20-acre lake. Devices containing mercury should be dropped off at the HHM facility.
Motor Oil
Motor oil should be dropped off at the HHM facility.
- Use a dirt-free pan that can hold as many quarts as your car's crankcase and has NOT been used for paint, cleaning solvents, antifreeze or chemicals besides motor oil.
- Pour your used oil from the drain pan into a container with a leakproof lid such as a rinsed-out plastic milk jug. Use a funnel to avoid spills. Don't mix or blend your oil.
- If you change your oil filter, drain the old one by punching a hole in the top and inverting it over your drain pan. Dispose of the old filter by putting some paper towels over the hole. Then put the old filter and paper towels in the box the next filter came in. Place the box in the trash.
- To recycle your used oil container, put the lid back on and save it for your next oil change. Store it away from children and pets.
Other Disposal Options
Batteries
- Regular household (alkaline and carbon-zinc) batteries should be disposed of in regular trash collection.
- Rechargeable batteries, as well as lithium, silver-oxide, and mercury batteries, should be dropped off in special collection boxes located at most Arlington County Fire Stations or at the HHM facility.
- Car batteries can be collected with curbside recycling by submitting a request by calling (703) 228-6570 or they can be dropped off at the HHM facility.
| Fire Station 1, 500 S. Glebe Rd., (703) 228-0101 | Fire Station 7, 3116 S. Abingdon St., (703) 228-0107 |
| Fire Station 2, 4805 Wilson Blvd., (703) 228-0102 | Fire Station 8, 4845 Lee Hwy., (703) 228-0108 |
| Fire Station 4, 3121 10th St. N., (703) 228-0104 | Fire Station 9, 1900 S. Walter Reed Dr., (703) 228-0109 |
| Fire Station 5, 1750 S. Hayes St., (703) 228-0105 | Fire Station 10, 1559 Wilson Blvd., (703) 228-0110 |
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)
CFLs are a great way to save energy and money, but they contain mercury and should not be thrown in the trash. The County offers several recycling locations to drop CFLs:
| Aurora Hills Library, 735 18th St. S., (703) 228-5715 |
| Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., (703) 228-5990 |
| Court House Plaza Library, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., (703) 228-3352 |
| HHM Facility, 530 31st St. S., (703) 228-6832 |
| Solid Waste Bureau, 4300 29th St. S., (703) 228-6570 |
Additional Resources
- Learn more about HHM at Know Toxics >>
- Would you like to learn more about handling HHM safely around your home? Take FEMA's free web-based course >>
