Safely Manage Household Hazardous Products

Many chemicals, materials, and products commonly found in the home are toxic and can be harmful to your health and our environment. Learn how to handle these items with care, and recycle or dispose of them responsibly.

“Learn about your recycling and disposal options.”

You may also want to check for Programs or Events in Your Community, find a Collection Facility Near You, or follow one of the links below for additional information.

Programs or Events in Your Community

To learn more about local hazardous household product collection sites or events - including days and hours - contact your community's recycling or solid waste coordinator or department. For contact information: Zoom in ( + ) on the map below, click on the icon for your city or town, and follow the link. An alphabetical listing of municipal recycling links is available below.

Find a Collection Facility Near You

The facilities listed in the tables below have been approved by the MassDEP to accept common household items that contain toxic chemicals and need to be handled properly.

Call facilities or check their web sites for complete lists of items accepted, fees, and days/hours of operation. 

If there is no collection center near you, see Programs or Events in Your Community to learn about local recycling or disposal opportunities.

Open to Residents of All Municipalities

CommunityFacilityTelephoneDetails
BraintreeClean Harbors Inc.781-380-7177Private facility, open to all municipalities. Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, March through November, and by appointment. Currently closed to public due to COVID-19. Above schedule to resume in May 2021.
SuttonNew England Disposal Technologies Inc.866-769-1621Private facility, open to all municipalities. Open 20 Saturdays and 100 weekdays per year, and by appointment.
WestfieldNew England Disposal Technologies Inc.866-769-1621Private facility, open to all municipalities. Open year-round on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Open to Residents of Member Municipalities

CommunityFacilityTelephoneDetails
DevensDevens Regional HHW Facility978-501-3943Ashby, Ayer, Bolton, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Shirley and Townsend residents on the first Wednesday and following Saturday of each month, March through December.
LexingtonMinuteman HHW Center781-698-4522Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Chelmsford, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham and Watertown residents. Currently closed to residents of non-member communities due to COVD-19. May reopen to non-residents in the future. Open eight weekend days per year, April through November.

Open to Residents of Host Municipality

CommunityFacilityTelephoneDetails
BarnstableTransfer Station508-420-2258Barnstable residents only.
BrooklineRecycling Center617-879-4908Brookline residents only whenever the Recycling Center is open.
BrocktonRecycle Depot508-580-7827Brockton residents only. Call for hours. 
HarwichTransfer Station508-430-7558Harwich residents only.
NantucketDepartment of Public Works508-228-7244Nantucket only. Monthly collection 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, third Saturday of the month, April to December.
NewtonResource Recovery Center617-796-1471Newton residents only on Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., mid-May through mid October, and four Saturdays per year.
NorfolkRecycling/Transfer Station508-528-4990Norfolk residents only, Wednesdays (11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., April through September; 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., October through March) and Saturdays (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
SpringfieldHazardous Waste Collection Depot413-787-7840Springfield residents only.
SturbridgeRecycling Center508-347-2504Sturbridge residents only on the third Saturday of the month, March through November.

Recycle Fluorescent Bulbs & Mercury Products

Mercury is a natural heavy metal that is toxic to people and wildlife. It is found in fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers, thermostats, and a range of other products.

Prescription Drugs

What is it?

  • Includes epi pens, sharps and other prescription or over the counter medicines


Why Shouldn't it be thrown in the trash?

  • Pills may be thrown in the trash but, should be first made unusable by being saturated in water. Keeping them in the original container is recommended. 
  • Pills that are flushed down the toilet or washed down the sink may contaminate ground or surface water which can cause a negative effect on humans and wildlife.
  • Sharps must be disposed of in strong plastic containers as to prevent harm during trash collection.


How to dispose of it?

  • Do not flush them down the toilet or wash them down the sink.
  • Keep them in the original containers and add water or kitty litter to the containers with unwanted medicine within.
  • Disguise containers before placing them in the trash to avoid accidental use.
  • For more information, please visit Safely Dispose of Prescription Drugs.
     

Note: Municipalities and organizations wanting to host one-time collections or permanent kiosks need to apply for a MassDEP waiver first.

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