Household Hazardous Waste

Acceptable Materials

The following items are accepted during normal operating hours:

• Aerosol paint cans
• Latex paint - Maximum quantity of 5 gallons per visit
• Lead acid automobile batteries
• Used antifreeze - Maximum quantity of 5 gallons per visit
• Used motor oil - Maximum quantity of 5 gallons per visit

Other, additional items are allowed at our monthly collection events.

Unacceptable Materials

The following materials are not accepted at HHW events:

• Asbestos material - Contact RVRA for disposal help
• Biologically active or infectious material
• Explosive material (including ammunition) - Contact the Police or Sheriff's Department in your locality for information
• Gas cylinders (excluding 8-pound barbeque tanks) - Contact your local gas company for information
• Radioactive material
• Prescription drug medications
• Smoke Alarms - See Instructions

Batteries

Batteries are accepted during our monthly household hazardous waste events (remember to pre-register!). Items accepted include:

• Alkaline / Zinc-Carbon Batteries
• Rechargeable Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries
• Rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries
• Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries
• Rechargeable, small-sealed lead acid batteries

A little more about lithium batteries....they are in so many of the devices that we use each and every day like cell phones, laptops and even children's toys. But did you know that tossing your lithium batteries in the trash is dangerous? We want to help you keep fires from happening in your home and in our solid waste workers trucks, the transfer station and the landfill. If you can't make it to one of our household hazardous waste collection events, then visit call2recycle.org to find a battery recycling location near you. Find fire safety tips about lithium batteries by clicking here.

Options for Disposal of Prescription Drugs

Permanent drug drop box locations in the Roanoke Valley:

• Roanoke County Sheriff's Office:
  401 E Main Street
  Salem, VA 24153
• Walgreen's Drug Store
  4841 Williamson Road NW
  Roanoke, VA 24012
• Carilion Clinic
  2011 Crystal Spring Avenue
  Roanoke, VA 24014
• Town of Vinton Municipal Building
  Lower Level-Police Dept. Entrance
  311 S. Pollard Street
  Vinton, VA 24179

Instructions

Home disposal, when completed correctly per the instructions is another option to dispose of prescription drugs:

• Remove medications from their original containers. If the medication is solid, crush it or add water to dissolve it and then mix the medication with an undesirable substance, such as kitty litter or coffee grounds.
• Place the mixture in a container with a lid or in a sealable baggie to prevent the medication from leaking, and throw it into the trash.
• Do not dispose of medications in the toilet or sink, unless specifically instructed to on the label.

Sharp Disposal

Options for Disposal of Sharp materials such as needles, syringes, lancets, and other sharp objects can be disposed of by the following:

• Disposal: Dispose of the sealed, full container with your household trash. Do not place the container in the recycling bin.
• Label/Warning: Place a large label with a warning on the container. CAUTION! SYRINGES - NEEDLES. DO NOT RECYCLE!
• Rigid Container: Use a container with a screw-on cap such as an empty opaque laundry detergent bottle or bleach bottle. The bottles must be able to be marked with a warning label using a felt-tipped marking pen.
• Seal: After the container is full, seal the bottle with the original cap and wrap tape over the cap.

Commercial Materials

No commercial materials are allowed. For information about services for commercial haulers, see the Commercial Services page.