Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is defined as home-generated materials that includes products such as paints, paint thinners, solvents, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, automotive waste, cleaning agents, swimming pool chemicals, photographic materials, batteries, mercury containing items, and fluorescent bulbs.

Americans generate 1.6 millin tons of HHW per year.  The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds in garages, attics, and in storage closets.

Improper disposal of household products harms the environment and may endanger human health.  Several times a year, the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission hosts free HHW Collection Events where Southeast Texans can properly dispose of hazardous materials.

Household Hazardous Waste and
Scrap Tire Collection Events

Depending upon the availability of funding, the SETRPC conducts free Household Hazardous Waste and Scrap Tire Collection Events where Southeast Texans can dispose of hazardous materials free of charge.  During the past several collection events, a scrap tire collection event has also been held in conjunction with the HHW events.

 During these free collection events, the SETRPC collects items that could pose health and environmental risks if disposed of improperly.

The SETRPC accepts household hazardous items including paints, cleaners, antifreeze, batteries, oil, automotive waste, insecticides, swimming pool chemicals, mercury, fluorescent bulbs and much more.

Materials not accepted during these events include general trash, electronic waste, appliances, pesticides or herbicides containing 2,4,5-T Silvex (exception: quantities less than 5 gallons will be accepted), explosives, compressed gas cylinders, fertilizers or nutrient materials that are neither hazardous nor contain pesticides, admixtures, and pesticides or wood preservatives containing pentachlorophenol.

During the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events, the SETRPC also collects scrap tires at no charge for the first eight tires.  A cash disposal fee of $1.00 is required for each additional tire.

For more informattion about the next Household Hazardous Waste and Scrap Tire Collection Event, call (409) 899-8444 ext. 6603.

If you are interested in receiving email notifications about upcoming HHW events contact Kara Hawthorn at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click Here For April 17, 2010 HHW Collection Flyer

Materials Collected During Past HHW Events

May, 2005         June, 2006        March, 2007        May, 2007    

June, 2008            April, 2009             June 2009

Additional Resources:

State:

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

Federal:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)