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.

Find a Collection Location Near You

Additional Resources

Check the MassDEP Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory for nearby drop-off locations. Just type in the item you want to donate and click on Search for a listing and map.

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

Community	Facility	Telephone	Details
Braintree	Clean Harbors Inc.	781-380-7177	Private 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.
Sutton	New England Disposal Technologies Inc.	866-769-1621	Private facility, open to all municipalities. Open 20 Saturdays and 100 weekdays per year, and by appointment.
Westfield	New England Disposal Technologies Inc.	866-769-1621	Private 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

Community	Facility	Telephone	Details
Devens	Devens Regional HHW Facility	978-501-3943	Ashby, 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.
Lexington	Minuteman HHW Center	781-698-4522	Arlington, 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

Community	Facility	Telephone	Details
Barnstable	Transfer Station	508-420-2258	Barnstable residents only.
Brookline	Recycling Center	617-879-4908	Brookline residents only whenever the Recycling Center is open.
Brockton	Recycle Depot	508-580-7827	Brockton residents only. Call for hours.
Harwich	Transfer Station	508-430-7558	Harwich residents only.
Nantucket	Department of Public Works	508-228-7244	Nantucket only. Monthly collection 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, third Saturday of the month, April to December.
Newton	Resource Recovery Center	617-796-1471	Newton residents only on Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., mid-May through mid October, and four Saturdays per year.
Norfolk	Recycling/Transfer Station	508-528-4990	Norfolk 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.).
Springfield	Hazardous Waste Collection Depot	413-787-7840	Springfield residents only.
Sturbridge	Recycling Center	508-347-2504	Sturbridge 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: MassDEP Waiver for Municipalities and Organizations hosting a one-time collection event or permanent kiosk. 

Lithium-ion/Nickel cadmium Batteries

What is it?

• These are different than alkaline batteries.
• They might be labeled with “Li-ion” or “NiCd” and are often rechargeable
• They can be found in many products such as; cell phones, battery packs, e-bikes, toys, etc.

Why shouldn’t it be thrown in the trash?

• When compressed in the trash, these batteries can cause fires. Protect yourself and your trash collectors by disposing of batteries properly.
• Heavy metals are present in these batteries which can be released into the environment when these batteries are not disposed of properly.

How to dispose of it?

• For all types of batteries, tape both ends of the battery and find a battery collection.
• Beyond the Bin is a database that lists proper disposal locations for batteries and more
• If a battery is bulging, leaking or recalled, it will need to be disposed of immediately. Place the battery of concern in a plastic bag to prevent it from touching any metal.

Translation Services

To request an over the phone interpreter through International Translation Company LLC:

1. Dial: 718-838-9317
2. Enter the DEP pin number: 3433831#
3. Say your language
4. To confirm, press the number: 1

Your call will then be connected to an interpreter.

For emergency assistance, call 617-989-3939 or email [e-mail].