Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Collection of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Electronic Devices, Sharps, Pharmaceuticals and Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) Hazardous Waste

NOTE:

Some household hazardous waste programs may continue to have COVID restrictions for residents attending collection events or facilities.

DEEP suggests that residents check ahead with their local collection program for any restrictions that might apply.  Phone numbers for each collection program are provided on the DEEP's Household Hazardous Waste Programs and Collection Schedule web page.  Just pick you town from the drop-down menu and click on it.  The phone number will be listed at the bottom of the green bar above the collection dates for your program.  COVID restrictions and other information about household hazardous waste collections may also be posted on your town's website. 

Virtually all households have HHW, electronic devices, sharps or pharmaceuticals. Permanent and one-day collection programs provide an opportunity to manage these wastes in an environmentally safe manner.

HHW is generally defined as a household waste that is toxic, flammable, reactive or corrosive. Common HHW includes oil-based paints, thinners, pool chemicals, pesticides, mercury fever thermometers, and gasoline.  Since the first collection in 1984 in Ridgefield, HHW programs have grown dramatically. Collections are available for nearly every resident, and on average, over 30,000 state residents participate in HHW collections each year.

Note:  Pharmaceuticals and sharps cannot be brought to HHW collections. Some towns or pharmacies occasionally offer special collections where residents can bring sharps, prescription medicines, veterinary medicines and over-the-counter (OTC) products. But they are not regularly scheduled and are sometimes limited to residents of the sponsoring town. If you cannot bring your medicines to a special collection, the best way to dispose of medicines and OTC products, is to follow the disposal instructions and put them in the trash.  If you cannot bring your sharps to a special collection, see the brochure entitled "Don't Stick Me With Your Sharps"  for information on how to safely dispose of this waste.

Information for Businesses, Vendors and Municipalities

Prepared by the Connecticut DEEP Pollution Prevention Program.  For more information, contact Tom Metzner at DEEP 860-424-3242.

Content Last Updated on February 22, 2022