Environmental Services
Household HazMat Program
What are household hazardous materials?
Household hazardous materials (HHM) are hazardous chemicals that should not be thrown out with your regular trash, as they might spill or leak out of the trash trucks. Arlington County Residents can bring household hazardous materials, such as paint or pesticides, to the HHM disposal facility for safe disposal. Read a brochure about the HMM program, (about PDF format).
It is ILLEGAL to dump hazardous materials on the ground or down storm sewers. Telephone (703) 558-2222 to report violations.
Accepted Items
Typical materials which you should bring to the HHM drop-off facility include:
- home, lawn and garden chemicals used for pest, insect and weed control
- compact fluorescent light bulbs
- automotive fuel
- windshield wiper fluid
- antifreeze
- brake fluid
- transmission fluid
- gas additives
- gear oil and most car care products
- car batteries
- flammable cleaning solvents such as kerosene, turpentine, varsol, mineral spirits, parts cleaners, floor strippers, rug cleaners, and spot removers
- lamp and heating oil
- fluorescent tubes
- corrosives such as muriatic acid, and oven or drain cleaners with lye
- swimming pool additives
- photo chemicals
- thermometers, thermostats, and barometers containing mercury
- oil and latex paint, varnish, stains, polyurethane
- propane tanks
We accept most flammable, corrosive or poisonous solid, liquid and aerosol household products.
Unacceptable Items
The HHM program does not accept:
| Unacceptable Items | Other Disposal Options |
| Friable asbestos products (crumbly) | Friable asbestos should be left in place or removed by a qualified contractor. |
| Non-friable asbestos products (not crumbly) | Non-friable asbestos (will not crumble in your hand) in small quantities may be safety disposed of in the regular trash. If you have larger quantities, you may dispose of them at a debris landfill (a landfill for inert materials such as building materials). The nearest one is Hilltop Sand and Gravel located at 7950 Telegraph Road and (call first to confirm they will accept the material (703) 971-1434). |
| Building or construction debris | County Refuse Code requires residents to privately dispose of building materials at their own expense. Check the yellow pages under “rubbish” or look in the back of the newspaper for businesses that engage in light hauling. The Solid Waste Bureau also maintains a listing of licensed waste haulers serving the County. The phone number is (703) 228-6570. |
| Tires | Residents that receive County refuse and recycling collection may set out four or fewer tires with their regular trash. Other residents should arrange for disposal with a tire shop or a permitted tire collection transporter. |
| Furniture | If the furniture item is still usable consider donating it to Goodwill or Salvation Army. Residents that receive County refuse and recycling collection may set out furniture on their regular refuse collection day. Furniture must fit into the back of a refuse collection vehicle and weigh less than 150 pounds. Residents are required to dispose of furniture weighing more than 150 pounds. |
| Appliances | Residents that receive County trash and recycling collection can request a special collection for appliances or scrap metal. Resident who do not receive County services should contact their trash disposal company or look in the yellow pages for trash removal. |
| Scrap metal | Residents that receive County trash and recycling collection can request a special collection for appliances or scrap metal. Resident who do not receive County services should contact their trash disposal company or look in the yellow pages for trash removal. |
| Broken glass | Secure (wrap in paper or place in a container) and place in with your regular refuse |
| Ammunition or explosives | Contact the Police Department for ammunition or explosives. Non emergency number is 703-558-2222. |
| Prescription medications | Return to the pharmacy or secure in a container and dispose with your regular trash. |
| Radioactive material | |
| Medical wastes | Sharp medical waste (such as needles) should be placed in a ridid plastic container with a screw cap and disposed of with your regular trash. |
| Smoke detectors | Both photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms contain plastic and electronic circuit boards, and batteries (alkaline or lithium). The ionization technology also includes a chamber containing radioactive material incorporated into a gold matrix. Because of the long half-life of americium-241 the amount of radioactive material in the smoke alarm at the end of its certified useful life will be about the same as when you bought it. Virginia does not have a program for smoke detectors and it is recommended that you first attempt to return the smoke detector to the manufacturer to see if they will accept it back. If they will not, than your only alternative is to place the item in with your regular trash as the County has no other option for this item. |
Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL)
CFL's are a great way to save energy and money but it is important not to trash used CFL's, they contain mercury. You can also learn more on the Know Toxics web site. The county offers several recycling locations to drop off your old bulbs.
- Courthouse Plaza Library
- Central Library
- Aurora Hills Library
- Solid Waste Bureau
- HHM disposal facility
Computers/Electronics
Arlington residential households can recycle computers and other electronic items at the County’s HHM drop-off site. The facility is open every Saturday, 9 am – 3 pm (except holidays and ECARE event days) and is located at the Water Pollution Control Plant. Call 703-228-6832 for more information.
Items accepted free of charge include:
- old or unwanted central processing units
- hard drives
- keyboards
- printers and copiers
- laptop computers
- wires and power cords
- computer speakers
- surge protectors
- video cards
- scanners
- computer mice
- cell phones
- software
- other peripheral computer equipment
- stereo/video equipment (DVDs, VCRs, etc.)
Computer monitors are accepted for a $15 fee. Televisions can be recycled for a $20 fee. TVs and CRT monitors contain, on average, 6-8 pounds of lead and other harmful materials which must be reclaimed.
This program is open to all Arlington County households. Businesses can refer to a list of computers and electronic items recycling options. You can also learn more on the Know Toxics web site.
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 curb-side collection. For the home disposal process, you should wear old clothing, gloves and use 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. Then place the latex paint cans at the curb for collection by the Solid Waste Division. (If the can is more than 25% full of latex paint, it is best to take it to the Household HazMat facility.
Motor Oil Recycling and Drop-Off Locations:
Motor oil should be brought to one of these participating automotive station for recycling (view list). However, if the waste oil has been mixed with water, solvents or fuel, please bring the contaminated oil to the Household Hazardous Materials drop-off facility for disposal. Please call 228-6832 for a complete listing of used oil dropoff centers.
Read a brochure on how to recycle your oil (119 KB, PDF format) or in Spanish Recicle el aceite usado de automóvil (118 KB, PDF format).
Batteries:
- Regular household batteries (alkaline and carbon-zinc) should be disposed of along with your trash.
- Rechargeable batteries, as well as lithium, silver-oxide, and mercury batteries, should be deposited in special collection boxes located at most Arlington County Fire Stations or brought to the HHM drop-off site.
- Car batteries can be put out with your recycling for collection, but you must call first to request a special collection (703-228-6570). Car batteries can also be brought to the HHM drop-off site.
- You can also learn more on the Know Toxics web site.
Mercury
The Senate passed S. 351, a bill to phase out mercury thermometers and improve management of surplus mercury, by unanimous consent Sept. 5. Each thermometer contains one gram of mercury, enough to contaminate a 20-acre lake, said Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project. Although some states have banned the thermometers, a national strategy is needed to keep surplus mercury out of commerce. The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Contact: Michael Bender, Mercury Policy Project, (802) 223-9000. You can also learn more on the Know Toxics web site.
HHM Facility Location and Hours of Operation
Arlington County's household hazardous materials (HHM) facility is for disposal of household hazardous materials generated by Arlington residents. The HHM drop-off facility is located on the grounds of the Water Pollution Control Plant on South Glebe Rd. Follow the signs to the HHM entrance at 530 South 31st Street.
- We do not accept commercial or business hazardous materials.
- The HHM drop-off facility is open every Saturday between 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, except during major holidays and scheduled E-CARE collection events. Please call 703-228-6832 to verify HHM facility closures during these times.
- A scheduled appointment is not required to drop-off materials on Saturdays. However, citizens are encouraged to confirm acceptability of their HHM materials by calling the HHM chemist at (703) 228-6832 before arrival at our facility. On Saturdays, citizens should proceed directly to the HHM storage sheds and check-in with the HHM chemist.
- Monday - Friday hours are by appointment only. Call (703) 228-6832 during business hours to schedule an appointment. On weekdays, citizens with appointments should report to the security guard at the gate.
FEMA's Household Hazardous Materials Training Course
Would you like to learn more about handling household hazardous materials safely around your home? Take the Federal Emergency Management Agency's new web based course IS-55 Household Hazardous Materials: A Guide for Citizens. It is a FREE interactive web-based course for the general public. After successfully completing the course, trainees will receive a certificate.
