We have to deal with a lot of “stuff” in our everyday lives. There’s stuff we buy, stuff we make, stuff we use – and eventually, stuff we have to get rid of.
When stuff becomes waste, it’s important to handle it the right way. Thankfully, residents and small businesses in King County have access to services that help manage and dispose different kinds of wastes.
Knowing what kind of waste you have is the first step. If you have an item you don’t need anymore, you can find out how to get rid of it with the What do I do with…? search tool from King County Solid Waste Division. But if your waste might be hazardous, you’ll want to take some specific steps for safe disposal.
When waste is too hazardous for the regular trash
The Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County helps residents and small businesses dispose of a special type of waste that could harm people’s health or the environment. Hazardous waste commonly includes things like cleaning chemicals, automotive fluids, batteries, cosmetics, pesticides, and more.
How do you know if something is hazardous waste? Often, products that have words like CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, or POISON on the label are considered hazardous.
You can also check the Haz Waste Program’s list of hazardous products to find out how to dispose of certain items.
Comparing hazardous waste to other waste
The Haz Waste Program accepts many hazardous items at disposal sites and Wastemobile events across King County. But some hazardous items and other household waste can be disposed of in different ways.
Here are a few examples. Click on each item for more information.
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Hazardous, |
Hazardous, |
NOT hazardous, |
Have questions about hazardous waste?
If you’re ever unsure about the right way to dispose of hazardous waste or potentially hazardous waste, email the Haz Waste Program at haz.waste@kingcounty.gov or 206-296-4692. Help Line hours are Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., except holidays.