Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection

Many of the products we use every day contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to our health and the environment. Improper disposal of the products listed below can pollute our environment and cause injury to collection workers. It is our responsibility therefore to properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous waste. All household hazardous waste will is environmentally disposed of by a licensed hazardous waste disposal firm.

Page updated on Nov 4, 2019 at 2:52 PM
HHWColvin


What's New

Refrigerant Recovery Now Available
Residents may now bring any appliances that contain refrigerant to the Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center located at 3224 Colvin Street. 
Examples include:   • Refrigerators •   Freezers •   Air Conditioning Units •   Dehumidifiers. 

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.

Open on Saturday: 7:30am - 3:30pm (except holidays)

Open on Monday: 7:30am - 3:30pm (except holidays)


 

Acceptable and Unacceptable Hazardous Waste & Electronic Items

Acceptable Household Hazardous Waste Items 

  • Antifreeze
  • Battery Acid
  • Gasoline
  • Motor oil
  • Auto Cleaning Products
  • Car Batteries
  • Fluorescent Light Bulbs 
  • Oil-based Paints*
  • Lacquers
  • Spray can Paint
  • Thinners
 
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Household Cleaning Products
  • Flammable Waxes & Abrasives
  • Driveway Sealer
  • Household Batteries**
  • Drain Cleaner
  • Flammable Caulks & Adhesives
  • Varnishes
  • Mineral Spirits
  • Mercury thermostats & thermometers 
 
  • Lawn Care Products
  • Garden Products
  • Herbicides
  • Pesticides
  • Ant Bait or Traps
  • Rodent Control Products
  • Insect Spray Cans
  • Pet Supplies
  • Photographic Chemicals
 

* 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 can be thrown away in the regular trash.

Unacceptable Hazardous Waste Items 

 
  • Ammunition
  • Radioactive materials
  • Unlabeled substances
  • Propane, oxygen or acetylene Tanks (please return to the supplier;
    tanks less than 5 gallons can be thrown away as trash, if empty,
    and if partially full, then bring to the HHW Center.)
 


Electronics - Acceptable Items 

 

  • Calculators
  • CD-ROM / DVD Drives
  • Memory & Circuit Boards
  • PC’s / Laptops / Notebooks
  • Monitors (LCD, Plasma & CRT)
  • All Computer Peripherals:
  • Keyboards, Mice, Cables, External Drives
  • Fax Machines & Modems
  • All Rechargeable & Button Batteries
  • Desktop printers (laser & ink jet)   their cartridges
  • Desktop scanners & copiers
  • Cell Phones, Blackberries & PDA’s
  • Stereos and speakers
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
  • Video & Audio Equipment
  • Wires/Cables/Extension Cords
  • Televisions
  • CRT's (Cathode Ray Tubes)
  • LCD's
  • Plasma & Rear Projection
  • Storage Media* and their cases: (DVD’s, CD’s, ZIP, Floppy Disks, Etc.)
  • Digital Cameras
  • Small kitchen appliances and microwaves.
  

 

Notes:  Alkaline batteries can be disposed of as trash in curbside collection

          * Dispose of VHS and cassette tapes with the regular trash


Acceptable Appliances include:  

  • Refrigerators
 
  • Freezers  
 
  • Air Conditioning Units
 
  • Dehumidifiers
 
  • Any items containing refrigerant       
 

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 Solid Waste 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.
    Click here for 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 Soid Waste 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.

Hazardous Product 

Hazardous Component 

 Less Toxic Option  Proper Disposal 
Stains/Finishes Glycols, ethers, ketones,minerals spirits, toluene, xylene, other volatile organic compounds Water-based finishes Store in screw top container. Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Oil-Based Paints Alcohol, acetone, esters, ketones, petroleum distillates, other volatile compounds Use water-based paints* Share leftovers with friends or neighbors; save for household hazardous waste collection.
Used Oil Hydrocarbon, heavy metals none; use recycled oil Can be recycled. Contact oil collection center or service station; save for household hazardous waste collection.
Bleach Cleaners Lye, hydrogen peroxide, sodium or calcium hypocholorite Baking soda or borax In well-ventilated area, use up as intended. Never mix with ammonia.
Ammonia-Based Cleaners Ammonia, ethanol White vinegar, lemon juice In well-ventilated area, use up as intended. Never mix with chlorine bleach.
Drain Opener Lye, sodium hypochlorite Prevent blockage with biological clog preventers; remove clogs with plunger or plumber's "snake" Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Oven Cleaner Lye, ammonia Catch drips with foil or cookie sheets; for cleaning use baking soda, water, scouring pad In well-ventilated area, use up as intended. Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Pesticides Almost all pesticides are hazardous. Call US EPA for a list of banned pesticides Remove food source, use traps and baits, or biological controls Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Paint Thinners Alcohol, acetone,esters, ketones, petroleum distillates, other volatile organic compounds Water in water based paints Store in screw top container, allow paint solids to settle to bottom & pour off clear thinner to use again. Save remainder for household hazardous waste collection.
*Water-based, Latex paints Not considered hazardous   Share leftovers with friends or neighbors; add kitty litter or saw dust to left over and allow the paint can to dry out before throwing in the trash. Can be brought to household hazardous waste collection.



Additional Resources

 

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