What's New

The Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center is operating under its regular schedule (Mondays and Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). The center will also continue to adhere to the special  operating procedures put in place for the safety of staff and residents.

For more information on reopening phases for resource recovery services offered by the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES), visit alexandriava.gov/TES. 

Why Properly Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics?

It is our responsibility to properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous waste.  All household hazardous waste is disposed of by a licensed hazardous waste disposal firm.  

Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center Location & Hours

Location:   3224 Colvin Street  (click for map)

• From the West: Travel east on Duke Street and turn right onto S. Quaker Lane.  Then take the first left onto Colvin Street.  You will see the site on your right.
• From the East: Travel west on Duke Street and turn left onto S. Quaker Lane. Then take the first left onto Colvin Street. You will see the site on your right.
• From the North: Take Braddock Road, King Street or Seminary/Janneys Lane to N. Quaker Lane. Travel south on N. Quaker Lane to Duke Street; turn left. Travel east on Duke Street to S. Quaker Lane (an immediate right off of Duke St); turn right. Then take the first left onto Colvin Street.  You will see the site on your right.

Operating Procedures for the Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Drop-off Center

In order to protect staff and members of the public, the HHW Center is following the below procedures until further notice:

• When arriving at the center, residents should enter the vehicle queue and wait until the vehicle ahead has departed, or staff members have instructed them to proceed, before entering the site. Be mindful of traffic cones, barricades, signage, and gates that may be used to aid in traffic flow.
• DO NOT walk materials into the site.To ensure physical distancing is maintained, residents are not permitted to walk into the site. Residents who walk materials in through the gate will be turned away and asked to return in their vehicles.  

• The drop-off center is for Alexandria residents only. Residents must confirm residency by showing government ID (e.g., a driver’s license) or a utility bill to staff through a CLOSED vehicle window.  

• Residents should remain in their vehicles while staff can stage a utility cart for their use and only exit the vehicle after staff has distanced themselves.
• Residents are asked to follow guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to maintain 6 feet of physical distance and wear cloth face coverings while they are dropping off items.
• Because of physical distancing precautions related to COVID-19, residents are responsible for removing items from their vehicles and loading them onto the provided cart. Staff members are unable to assist residents with unloading at this time.
• Residents should return to their vehicles after unloading and wait for staff to retrieve and move the utility cart until exiting the site. 

Acceptable and Unacceptable Hazardous Waste & Electronic Items

Acceptable Household Hazardous Waste Items 

* Latex (water-based) paint is not considered hazardous material.  Dried out cans of latex paint can be disposed of in the regular trash.
** Household,  alkaline batteries (AA, AAA) can be thrown away in the regular trash.

Unacceptable Hazardous Waste Items 

 
Electronics - Acceptable Items 

 Notes:  Alkaline batteries can be disposed of as trash in curbside collection
          * Dispose of VHS and cassette tapes with the regular trash 

These items contain either chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants or hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants depending on their date of manufacture. Information about the dangers of CFC’s is available on the EPA website.

These items are not acceptable as regular trash nor can they be disposed of at the Covanta Energy Facility on Eisenhower Ave.   Disposal options for these items include:

1. Have your contractor or delivery service exchange your old appliance at time of delivery.
2. Call the Resource Recovery Division at 703.746.4410 to arrange for a special appliance pickup   Note: a $20.00 service fee may apply for large appliances 
3. Residents may deliver their appliance at no cost to the HHW & Electronics Collection Center located at 3224 Colvin St.  

Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL’s) and Mercury – Use, Breakage Cleanup & Disposal

Use: Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are lighting more homes than ever before, and EPA is encouraging Americans to use and recycle them safely. Carefully recycling CFLs prevents the release of mercury into the environment and allows for the reuse of glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. * Please read this flyer about the use and safe disposal of CFLs.

Breakage Clean Up: Fluorescent light bulbs and some older thermostats and thermometers contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within glass tubing. Learn more about EPA Clean Up Recommendations for broken fluorescent light bulbs and other mercury containing items.

Please contact the City Fire Department's Special Operations Battalion Chief at 703.746.5277 for further information about mercury spill clean up

Disposal: Unbroken fluorescent bulbs or properly sealed broken bulbs can be taken to the City's Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center.   

Material Preparation

Household Hazardous Waste 

• Please leave all materials in their originally labeled containers.
• Containers should be sealed and properly packaged for transportation.
• Do not mix chemical substances – even similar products from different manufacturers.

Electronics 

• Delete all information from computer hard-drives
  
  Disclaimer: The City of Alexandria is not responsible for and does not erase computer hard drives or memory.
  Read an article on preparing a computer for donation.    
  

Eligible Participants

The City of Alexandria provides weekly household hazardous waste and electronics recycling collection for City residents ONLY (i.e. those living in the following zip codes: 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, and 22314). Proof of residency is required.

Hazardous Waste and Electronic Disposal / Recycling Information for Businesses

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators:  Business may NOT use the City's HHW collection program to dispose of any hazardous waste. All businesses that produce hazardous wastes (including conditionally exempt small quantity generators, CESQG) should contact a licensed and permitted hazardous waste disposal company to properly document and dispose of their hazardous wastes. A partial list of companies is provided below for your convenience.  Please contact the Resource Recovery Division main telephone number: 703-746-4410 for additional information.

The City does not endorse any of the businesses below, please check certifications before selecting a vendor.  

• Asbestos Disposal Companies:
  • Environmental Waste Specialists, Inc., 703-502-0100, 14100 Sullyfield Circle, Suite 400, Chantilly, VA 20151
  • First Piedmont Corporation, 1-434-432-0211, P.O. Box 1069, Chatham, VA 24531
• Hazardous Waste Disposal Companies
  • Care Environmental Corp., 1-973-299-0774, 100 US Highway 46, Bldg. A, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046
  • Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., 1-800-638-4440, 1104 West Roslyn Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
  • Clean Venture, Inc., 1-410-368-9170, 2931 Whittington Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230
  • Eco-Flo, 1-301-498-4550, 8520 Corridor Road, Suite M, Savage, MD 20763
  • Environmental Management Services, Inc., 1-301-309-0475, 1688 East Gude Drive, Suite 301, Rockville, MD 20850
  • Potomac Environmental, Inc., 1-540-659-1894, P.O. Box 1836, Stafford, VA 22555
  • Remac America, Inc., 1-800-600-9608, 10860 Spring Knoll Drive, Potomac Industrial Park, Potomac, MD 20854
• Medical/Infectious Waste Disposal Service Companies
  • Clean Venture, Inc., 1-410-368-9170,2931 Whittington Avenue , Baltimore, MD 21230
  • Environmental Management Services, Inc., 1-301-309-0475, 1688 East Gude Drive, Suite 301, Rockville, MD 20850
  • SteriCycle, 1-800-234-7822, 5901 Chemical Road, Baltimore, MD 21226
• Petroleum Contaminated Soil or Products Disposal Companies
  • First Piedmont Corporation, 703-432-0211, P.O. Box 1069, Chatman, VA 24531
• Specific Collection Service Companies
  • Davis Industries, Inc., (Junk car removal), 703-550-7402, 9920 Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA 22079
  • U.S. Filter, (Waste oil & anti-freeze collection), 1-410-633-0606, 6305 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
  • Mid-States Oil, (Waste oil collection), 1-410-354-9500, 3520 Fairfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21226
  • Valley Proteins, (Rendering of animal waste & cooking oil), 1-410-355-4800, 1515 Open Street, Baltimore, MD 21226
  • U.S. Filter, (Waste oil & anti-freeze collection), 1-888-749-8344, 5800 Farrington Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304
  • Willow Spring Wrecker Service, (Junk car removal), 703-631-9339, 12815 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030
   

Electronics Recycling Information 

KnowToxics:  www.knowtoxics.com and click on private recycling services.

Local Electronics Recyclers:  Call for pricing

• Computer CORE:  3846 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302   PH: 703-931-7346 
• Securis: 14801 Willard Rd, Ste 800, Chantilly, VA  20151    703-436-1967
• eAssett Solutions: 134 W Jefferson ST, Falls Church, VA  22046   703-534-5865
• Shred Station Express:  5604 General Washington Dr, Alexandria, VA  22312   703-347-4638
  
  

Less Toxic & Reuse Opportunities

Residents and businesses can reduce the need to use the household hazardous waste site by using less toxic products and donating reusable electronics to charities.

Additional Resources

• HHW & Electronics Brochure 
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)