The following items are examples of items accepted at HHW events. If you do not see your item listed, please contact the Main Office before bringing your item, in case we cannot take it. The Main Office is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm at (919) 542-5516 or email us anytime at recycle@chathamcountync.gov.

From your house: aerosol cans batteries*+ bleach cleaners (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) disinfectants fire extinguishers* furniture polish fluorescent light bulbs* nail polish/remover	From your workshop: adhesives gas cylinders* paint- 20 gallon latex paint limit solvents stains strippers thinners varnish wood & metal cleaners wood preservatives
From your garage: antifreeze auto batteries*+ brake fluid degreasers diesel fuel gasoline or mixed gas kerosene motor oil & filters+ parts cleaner transmission fluid+	From your yard: herbicides lighter fluid pesticides poisons pool chemicals propane tanks

*These items are also accepted at the Main Facility during regular hours. No decal required.
+These items are accepted at the 12 Collection Centers with a current decal. Note: Some items may have restrictions at the Collection Centers.

Electronics are no longer accepted at HHW events due to the expansion of the Electronics Recycling program at several Collection Centers. Learn more about Electronics Recycling.

Hazardous waste from businesses will not be accepted at HHW events. A business is defined as any income-generating source, such as at-home businesses, farms, contractors, builders, etc. It also does not matter whether the business is currently operating. Chatham County and HHW contractors may refuse items if it is suspected to be from a business until its source can be verified. Learn about options for hazardous waste for businesses.

Other items NOT accepted at HHW events:

• ammunition
• asbestos
• electronics (learn about options for Electronics Recycling)
• explosives
• firearms
• inert debris
• infectious waste
• radioactive materials
• scrap metal
• tires
• trash
• yard waste

Visit our online disposal guide for details on how to dispose of these and many other items. If you do not see guidance for your item on the "How Do I Dispose of…" guide, contact the Main Office Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm at (919) 542-5516 or email us anytime at recycle@chathamcountync.gov.

Residents will only be allowed to bring 20 gallons of latex paint to each Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event. Approximately 60% of the material brought to Chatham County's HHW events is liquid latex paint. It is the most costly item collected in total. Yet, latex paint is only hazardous when in a liquid form. This new paint limit will help Solid Waste & Recycling save our budget to handle more hazardous wastes. 

Residents can bring 20 gallons of latex paint cans per HHW event. If you have a 1 gallon paint can that has half a gallon in it, it will count as 1 gallon. Feel free to combine partial cans of latex paint.

Please note that this new rule only applies to latex paint. Any other type of paint (oil-based, spray, etc.) cannot be hardened, so should be brought to HHW and does not have a limit.

Latex paint can be safely dried out and put in with your regular trash instead of bringing it to an HHW event. It does not have to be completely solidified– more like a paste. When dried, latex paint can be taken to any of the 12 Collection Centers (current decal required) or put in with your curbside trash.

• To dry out latex paint, take off the lid and let it sit outside in a covered area.
• Add kitty litter, sand, or sawdust to speed up the process.

When dried, latex paint can be taken to any of the 12 Collection Centers (current decal required) or put in with your curbside trash. 

Instead of drying it up, you can also paint something, then throw that item away once the paint is dry.

When completing a paint project, be sure to correctly estimate the amount of paint needed, so you do not have a lot leftover. If a contractor is painting for you, they should take excessive paint back with them, as it is their responsibility to dispose of it properly.

Please note– these suggestions only apply to latex paint. Other types of paint cannot be hardened and should be brought to an HHW event and do not have a limit.

Latex paint can be safely dried out and put in with your regular trash instead of bringing it to an HHW event. It does not have to be completely solidified– more like a paste. When dried, latex paint can be taken to any of the 12 Collection Centers (current decal required) or put in with your curbside trash.

• To dry out latex paint, take off the lid and let it sit outside in a covered area.
• Add kitty litter, sand, or sawdust to speed up the process.
• There should not be any liquid that can run out. See the images below for the steps and final product.

   

    

When dried, latex paint can be taken to any of the 12 Collection Centers (current decal required) or put in with your curbside trash. 

Instead of drying it up, you can also paint something, then throw that item away once the paint is dry.

When completing a paint project, be sure to correctly estimate the amount of paint needed, so you do not have a lot leftover. If a contractor is painting for you, they should take excessive paint back with them, as it is their responsibility to dispose of it properly.

Please note– Only latex paint can be dried or hardened. Other types of paint cannot be hardened and should be brought to an HHW event and do not have a limit.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office will conduct a medicine take back at some HHW events as a way for residents to safely dispose of unwanted medications. No needles, sharps, or liquids will be accepted. The Sheriff's Office will be at the April 15, July 15, and November 18 HHW events in 2023.

If you have medicine to dispose of outside of an HHW event, you can take them to a Medication Drop. Unused medication can always be disposed of at Medication Drop Boxes, no questions asked. Drop boxes are located at:

• Pittsboro Police Department- 635 East Street, Pittsboro (919) 542-3200
• Siler City Police Department- 312 North Chatham Avenue, Siler City (919) 742-5626
• Chatham County Detention Center- 627 Renaissance Drive, Pittsboro (919) 545-7802

 Visit Chatham Drug Free for more information- http://chathamdrugfree.org

When packaging your materials, do not mix wastes together in the same container. If possible, leave materials in their original containers with labels intact or write on the container what it is. Put them in the trunk of your car in a cardboard box lined with newspaper. If you put it in a container that you want returned, you will be instructed to pull off to the side until your container can be unloaded.

To help with traffic flow and safety, residents should stay in their vehicle at all times. Staff will unload items.