The Department of Public Works makes it easy for residents to dispose properly of household hazardous waste (HHW) and unwanted electronic equipment (e-waste). Throwing them into the trash, pouring them down the drain, or getting rid of them in other improper ways can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health, as well as to the health of your family pets and DPW workers. DPW operates two weekly household hazardous waste (HHW) /e-cycling drop-off and free personal document shredding sites at the Benning Road Trash Transfer Station (3200 Benning Road, NE) and the Fort Totten Trash Transfer Station (4900 Bates Road, NE). Both are open on Saturdays, except holidays, 8 am to 3 pm. These weekly drop-off sites replace the semi-annual HHW/e-cycling collection events. Residents also can bring documents to be shredded.

What is household hazardous waste? HHW applies to any leftover household products that are poisonous and/or can:

• Burn or cause a fire.
• Eat away materials.
• Destroy living tissue on contact.
• Cause an explosion or release poisonous fumes when exposed to air,
  water or other chemicals.
• Damage or destroy cells and chromosomal material.

E-cycling unwanted computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers and fax machines prevents releasing dangerous substances, such as lead and mercury into the environment. As the result of the February 17, 2009 digital television (DTV) transition from analog television broadcasting to digital TV, residents with analog televisions who use an antenna to get a picture, will need to obtain a digital-to-analog converter box, sign up for cable or satellite service or buy a digital television. DPW is ready to accept residents’ old TVs at either transfer station or call 311, the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center, for a bulk collection appointment. For more details about the DTV transition, please go to www.oct.dc.gov, the DC Office of Cable Television. In addition to providing HHW/e-cycling and document shredding on Saturdays, both transfer stations provide residents with compost between March and October and they will accept a small number of bulk items: Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station at 4900 Bates Road, NE, weekdays from 1 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm or the Benning Road Trash Transfer Station, 3200 Benning Road, NE, Saturdays only from 8 am to 3 pm. Both transfer stations are closed on holidays.

HHW is taken to a US Environmental Protection Agency-approved facility for processing, recycling or disposal. E-waste is broken down into its component parts; precious/toxic metals are extracted, and then the various materials are recycled or disposed of safely.

Acceptable household hazardous waste and
e-cycling items include:

• Acids
• Aerosols
• Antifreeze
• Asbestos tile
• Batteries
• Cleaning chemicals
• Drain openers
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Furniture stripper
• Stains
• Varnish
• Fertilizer
• Lighter fluid
• Mercury thermometers and mercury containing devices
• Moth balls
• Motor oil
• Paint
• Pesticides and
• Poisons
• Roofing tar
• Solvents/thinners
• Transmission fluids
• Windshield wiper and
• Brake fluids
• Wood preservatives

• Audio/visual equipment
• Audio cassettes
• Camcorders
• CD Rom drives CDs/DVDs
• Cell Phones
• Computers and monitors
• Connectors / Cords / Wire
• Copy machines
• Fax machines
• Floppy drives Hard drives
• Memory chips
• Network / Video / Sound cards
• Pagers
• Power supplies
• Printers
• Scrap computer plastic Scrap computer metal
• Tape drives
• TVs
• VCRs
• VCR tapes
• Video games & Software

Unacceptable household hazardous waste and e-cycling items include:

• Air conditioners (Call 311 for a bulk trash collection appointment.)
• Ammunition (Take to the closest police station.)
• Explosives (Take to the closest police station.)
• Latex paint (Dry out and place in the trash.)
• Medicine (Place the medicine in the trash. The empty bottle can be placed in your recycling container after removing the identification label from the bottle.)
• Microwave ovens (Call 311 for a bulk trash collection appointment.)
• Tires (Up to four tires may be taken to the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer  Station, 4900 Bates Road, NE, weekdays from 1 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm.)
• Wooden TV cabinets or consoles (Call 311 for a bulk trash collection appointment.)
  

How You Can Help

• Buy only what you need and use all of what you buy.
• Purchase non-hazardous products, such as biodegradable bathroom cleaners, when available.
• Keep HHW products in their original packaging and make sure the containers cannot leak or tip over as you take them from your home to a disposal site.
• Many electronic products can be reused, restored, or recycled.
• Latex paint is NOT HAZARDOUS. If you have unused latex paint, remove the lid and let it dry out. Then place the can in the trash. You can speed up the drying process by adding some kitty litter to the paint.