Hazardous Waste

Everyone has hazardous waste. While it may seem obvious to be careful with hazardous waste, how do you really know what is hazardous to begin with?

The easiest way to identify a hazardous product is by checking the label for words such as toxic, corrosive, flammable, or “keep out of reach of children”. These materials are considered hazardous waste and do not belong in your normal trash. 

Identifying Hazardous Waste 

These include any solid, liquid, or contained gas that is being disposed, burned, or recycled, and that is known to be harmful to human health and the environment when not managed properly. This can even include fluorescent light bulbs, computers, and cleaning products. 

View a list of commonly accepted items.

There are four characteristics that help identify hazardous waste.

• Ignitability - If it catches fire under certain conditions (paints, certain degreasers and solvents).
• Corrosivity - If the waste corrodes metals or has a very high or low pH (rust removers, acid or alkaline cleaning fluids, and battery acid).
• Reactivity - If it is unstable and explodes or produces toxic fumes, gases, and vapors when mixed with water or under other conditions such as heat or pressure.
• Toxicity - If it is harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed. It leaches toxic chemicals into the soil or ground water when disposed of on land. It contains high concentrations of heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, or mercury.

Currently, there are more than 500 wastes that are classified as hazardous. Your waste is considered hazardous if it appears on one of four lists published in the Code of Federal Regulations or meets certain characteristic properties.

How to Get Rid of it

There are a few options when it comes to getting rid of hazardous waste. Hazardous waste generated from a business requires different handling than residential. If the hazardous waste is from a church, school, farm, or at-home workshop; those are considered a businesses for hazardous waste disposal, click here for more information. 

For residential hazardous waste, see which disposal option works best for you: 

Locations to Drop it Off: 

Metro Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
1105 Prairie Dr. SW
Bondurant, IA 50035
515.967.5512

Metro Northwest Transfer Station
4105 Beisser Dr., Grimes, IA
Drop off by appointment only. To make an appointment, call 515.244.0021.
You can also drop hazardous waste off on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 8 AM - Noon (March - November), no appointment needed.
Note: Grimes doesn't accept electronic waste, appliances, or tires. Also no pouring off at this facility.

Houseside Collection
Available for all residents in our service area.
$25 fee for houseside collection

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