Household
Hazardous Waste
These items aren't your regular trash. Protect yourself, your family and your environment by getting rid of them the right way.
From nail polish remover to cleaning products to lawn fertilizer, hazardous products are used in day-to-day life. Just read the labels. Do you see the words toxic, corrosive, reactive, flammable? Or worse yet, keep out of reach of children? Not only can these products poison people and pets if not safely stored, they can contaminate the water, air and land you live on if disposed of improperly.
Pricing
Resident Pricing (exclusions and fees do apply)
| Up to 75 lbs. |
Free |
| Price/lb. above 75 lbs. |
$1/lb. |
Drop-offs during regular hours are not charged. Drop-offs before 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday will be assessed a $10 fee. Cash, personal checks, business checks and VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards are all accepted. To expedite your trip, bring items boxed up.
Business Pricing
Metro Waste Authority does provide disposal and recycling options for businesses. Learn about our Business Collection program or call our Business Waste representative at 515-967-5512. You can also submit your inquiry using our online Contact Us form.
What's Accepted and Not Accepted
Below are lists of items we accept and those we cannot take. These lists are not comprehensive; if you don't see your item listed, please call us at 515-244-0021 or look at our website's Recycling & Disposal Guide for local options, pricing and details.
| ACCEPTED |
| Aerosols |
| Acids/Bases |
| Antifreeze |
Batteries
Rechargeable mercuric-oxide (button batteries); nickel cadmium (NiCd); lithium (Li) or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH); car batteries OR visit www.call2recycle.org |
| Cleaners |
| Fertilizers |
| Floor Care Products |
| Glues |
| Gasoline and Kerosene |
Light Bulbs
High efficiency only: CFLs, ballasts, high intensity discharge |
Motor Oil
$10 handling fee for containers over five gallons. |
| Oil Filters |
| Oven Cleaner |
| Paint: Oil Based |
| Petroleum-Based Adhesives |
| Pesticides |
| Poison |
| Pool Chemicals |
| Roofing Tar |
| Rust Removers |
Sharps
Must be contained in detergent bottles or sharps containers (not milk jugs or pop bottles). Lids must also be taped.
$2 fee if not properly contained
|
| Shellac |
| Stain |
Thermostats, Thermometers
(mercury)
|
| Windshield Fluid |
| NOT ACCEPTED |
OPTIONS |
| Air Fresheners |
Trash |
| Ammunition and Explosives |
Refer to the online guide |
| Appliances |
Refer to the online guide |
| Asbestos |
Trash |
Batteries
AA, AAA or alkaline, non-rechargeable
|
Trash |
| Empty Containers |
Trash |
| Drain Cleaners and Enzymatic Ones |
Down-the-Drain
(instructions below)
|
| Dry Cement Mix |
Trash |
| Fire Extinguishers |
Refer to the online guide |
| Joint Compound |
Trash |
| Laundry Products |
Down-the-Drain
(instructions below)
|
Light Bulbs
Incandescent |
Trash |
| Liquid Cleaners |
Down-the-Drain
(instructions below)
|
| Medications |
Mix with items such as kitty litter or coffee grounds, double bag them, then place in the trash. Empty bottles and vials are accepted in the Curb It! recycling program. Many pharmacies also accept medicine through a takeaway program. For details, visit www.iarx.org. |
| Non-Hazardous Waste |
Trash |
| Potting Soil |
Trash |
| Propane Tanks |
Refer to the online guide |
| Sewing Needles |
Trash |
Down-the-Drain
When down the drain is an option, be sure to pour one cup of material down the drain and let the water run for one minute. Do not pour multiple products down the drain at once.
|
