While it's okay for small amount of household chemicals to go down the drain – no more than about a cup – large amounts of chemicals should never be disposed of in your drain! Bleach, disinfectants, degreasers, and other household cleaners are difficult to extract from water at the wastewater treatment plants, and they can also be harmful to workers and the environment.
Cleaning products are meant to go down your drains in small quantities with lots of water. Anything more than a cup can be dangerous to your pipes, wastewater treatment plant workers, and the environment.
Cleaning products contain various chemicals that when combined with others can cause dangerous reactions that can produce extreme heat or toxic gasses. This is why it is important to properly dispose of these chemicals when you no longer need them.
Visit our locator map or www.timetorecycle.com to find dropoff facilities near you!While cleaning products are generally safe to use in the home, when placed in the trash or dumped down the drain in large quantities, they can pose health and safety hazards.
Cleaning products contain various chemicals that when combined with others can cause dangerous reactions that can produce extreme heat or toxic gasses. This is why it is important to properly dispose of these chemicals when you no longer need them.
Take your no longer needed cleaning products like bleach, paint thinner, liquid plumber, and others to the nearest household hazardous collection facility or event. Visit our locator map or www.timetorecycle.com to find dropoff facilities near you!
Take your cleaning products to a household hazardous waste collection center or dropoff location.
These items need to be carefully and properly disposed of to maintain a safe and healthy home and environment. Check with your city to see where you can take these materials. Some cities even offer a curbside HHW pickup service. Visit our locator map or www.timetorecycle.com to find dropoff facilities near you!
Easy steps to protect our water quality
By practicing these three simple actions, you can ensure the health of our wastewater system and help protect our water quality.
Cleaners should only go down the drain in small amounts, with plenty of water. Try using natural cleaners that use vinegar or orange oil as the base.
Don't dump liquid chemicals down your drains. Pesticides, pool chemicals, degreasers, and other household chemicals should be taken to a household hazardous waste drop off location.
You can take your unused and unwanted cleaners to your nearest household hazardous waste collection location. The chemicals will be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner and the containers recycled. Many of these locations also offer partial containers of cleaners and paint to other residents at no cost. The product gets used as intended and those in need can save money.
It's a win-win!
When cleaning your bathroom, be mindful of what you do with the paper towels, sponges, rags, or wipes you use to clean with. Wipes - even "flushable" wipes - belong in the trash and should not be flushed down your toilet.
Using cleaning utensils that have multiple uses, like sponges or rags, instead of single use wipes is an environmentally friendly cleaning plan that will also save you money.