Discarding Household Hazardous Waste

What is household hazardous waste?

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) are products that contain ingredients that are toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. These include pool chemicals, paint thinner, pesticides, fluorescent lamps, car batteries and other items listed on this website.

Types of Items accepted at eligible waste facilities*

• Aerosols
• Ammunition
• Antifreeze/Engine coolant
• Cleaning chemicals
• Gasoline/Diesel fuel (Maximum container size 5 gallon)
• Fire extinguishers
• Flares & ammunition
• Fluorescent light bulbs (Limit: ten bulbs 4 feet and longer)
• LED light bulbs
• Mercury thermostats or thermometers
• Motor oil/Cooking oil
• Paint – latex & oil based paint/stain/varnish (Limit: 10 one-gallon containers and 5 five-gallon containers; must be sealed and not leaking)
• Paint primer/thinner/stripper
• Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides
• Pool chemicals
• Propane tanks (Limit: five 30-lb tanks or less)
• Various batteries, such as:
• Auto & motorcycle batteries
• Lawn mower batteries
• Marine batteries
• Rechargeable batteries (including Ni-Cd, NiMH, Lithium-Ion)
• Single use batteries (Lithium)

*This is not a complete list of what is accepted. Do not throw these items away in your curbside carts. Eligible facilities are listed below. If you have questions, call (813) 272-5680.

Items not accepted

The following items are not accepted at the HHW Collection Centers (click the links to find out disposal information):

• Alkaline batteries (common A, AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt)
• You can safely dispose of these in curbside trash carts
• Never place batteries of any type in your curbside recycling cart
• Biomedical/Sharps waste
• Commercial/business waste
• Electronics
• Explosives - Contact local law enforcement agencies for proper disposal or, in an emergency, dial 9-1-1
• Medications/Pharmaceuticals
• Radioactive materials - Contact the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control, (850) 245-4266, or the 24-hour Radiological Emergency Number, (407) 297-2095 for proper disposal

To find out more about the county’s HHW program, download the brochure:

• HHW Program Brochure - English
• HHW Program Brochure - Spanish

What to bring

• State-issued photo ID with a Hillsborough County residential address
• If you have materials other than household hazardous chemicals or electronics, rechargeable and automotive batteries, or paint, a printed or digital copy of your annual Hillsborough County Property Tax Bill showing your current solid waste assessment may be needed

• All County residents can use any of the HHW locations during the designated day and time for that location