Hazards at home: There is a safe, simple way to dispose of hazardous waste

Published on September 27, 2024

There is probably hazardous waste in your home, items you may not even think about that fall under that classification. It can be everyday items like TVs or cell phones, batteries, paints, weed killers.

Because such items may include hazardous materials, they should not be disposed of with your regular garbage collection. There is, however, a simple way to get rid of those unwanted items.

The City’s Solid Waste Disposal Authority (SWDA) operates the Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) located at, appropriately enough, 1055 A Cleaner Way.

Discarding of your dangerous items could not be easier and there is no cost. The 30,000 square foot facility is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for residents in Madison County, including the cities of Huntsville and Madison. A drive-thru service, available without appointment rain or shine, provides for convenient drop-offs. Facility staff will collect items from your car and safely dispose of them.

Items accepted at the HHW facility include:

• Electronics (TVs, laptops, cell phones)
• Automotive productive (oil, gasoline, antifreeze)
• Household cleaners and chemicals
• Paints and solvents
• Insect and weed killers
• Household and car batteries
• Expired medicines
• Used sharp items, such as needles
• Fluorescent bulbs

HHW does not accept explosives or radioactive or biological wastes.

The goal of the HHW facility, under the direction of new facility manager Michael L. Williams, is to take things that are harmful for the environment and properly dispose of those items and giving residents a place where they can bring those items that’s free and easy. HHW averages about 60 customers a day.

The program began in 1992 on a limited basis, permitting drop-offs only on the first Saturday of each month. The facility saw 366 customers in 1992, a number that doubled to about 700 customers by 2019.

That year, the current facility opened and services expanded to what they are today. The HHW facility now helps more than 21,000 customers a year.

It’s perhaps not surprising that electronics are the most common items dropped off at HHW at an average of about 25 tons per month. Batteries are another popular item (8 tons per month) and five tons per month of flammable liquids.