City of Alexandria, VA
Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling
Why Properly Dispose or Recycling Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics?
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.
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Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Collection Location & Hours
Location: 3540 Wheeler Avenue
- From the West: East on Duke Street to Wheeler Avenue; turn right. Then take the first left. You will see the Wheeler Avenue Recycling Drop-off Center.
- From the East: Travel west on Duke Street to Wheeler Avenue; turn left. Then take the first left. You will see the Wheeler Avenue Recycling Drop-off Center.
- 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 right. Travel west on Duke Street to Wheeler Avenue; turn left. Then take the first left. You will see the Wheeler Avenue Recycling Drop-off Center.
Hours: Monday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; There are no collections on holidays
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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
- Propane tanks
- 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
- Developers Fixers
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** Household, alkaline batteries can be thrown away in the regular trash.
Unacceptable Hazardous Waste Items
- Explosives
- Biological waste
- Unknown substances
- Helium Tanks
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- Ammunition
- Radioactive materials
- Unlabeled substances
- Propane Tanks
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Electronics Acceptable Items
The City accepts computers, televisions, VCRs, printers, stereos, cellular phones, and many other types of electronics. For a comprehensive list of acceptable and unacceptable electronics click here.
Electronics Unacceptable Items
No appliances including air conditioners, dehumidifiers, microwaves, etc. For a comprehensive list of acceptable and unacceptable electronics click here.
For more Information, please call the Solid Waste Division at 703-746-4410 (Please Note the New Number).
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Material Preparation
Household Hazardous Waste
- Containers should be in the originally labeled containers;
- Containers should be sealed and properly packaged for transportation.
- Do not mix chemical substances – even similar products from different manufacturers.
Electronics
- No broken TV scenes and Computer monitors
- Remove wooden consoles
- Clean/wipe computer hard-drive
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.
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Eligible Participants
The City of Alexandria provides weekly household hazardous waste and electronics recycling collection for City residents (i.e. those living in the following zip codes: 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, and 22314). Proof of residency is required.
No business hazardous waste or electronics are accepted during Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Collection.
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators: Hazardous waste from conditionally exempt small quantity generators may be accepted, by appointment only, and will be required to pay disposal costs. Please call (703) 519-3486 to find out more.
Small and Large Quantity Generators: For hazardous waste disposal contact one of the companies below:
- 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, 2031 Inverness 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, 2031 Inverness 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
For electronics recycling visit www.knowtoxics.com and click on private recycling services.
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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 colelction. |
| 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. |
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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 a broken fluorescent light bulbs and other mercury containing items.
The City's Fire Department can be contacted for further information about clean up. HazMat Number: 703-838-4652.
Disposal: Household unbroken and properly sealed mercury from breakage self cleanups can be brought to the City's Household Hazardous Waste Site.
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