Household Hazardous Waste

What is Household Hazardous Waste? Many common household products contain hazardous substances. These products become household hazardous waste (HHW) once the consumer no longer has any use for them. The average household generates more than 20 pounds of HHW per year. As much as 100 pounds can accumulate in the home, often remaining there until the residents move or do an extensive cleaning.

What is Household Hazardous Waste?
Many common household products contain hazardous substances. These products become household hazardous waste (HHW) once the consumer no longer has any use for them. The average household generates more than 20 pounds of HHW per year. As much as 100 pounds can accumulate in the home, often remaining there
until the residents move or do an extensive cleaning.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set stringent requirements for the management of hazardous waste generated by industries. Some HHW can also pose a risk to people and the
environment if not used, stored carefully, and disposed of properly.  Hazardous products will have one or more of the following properties:  Toxic/Poisonous: Capable of causing injury or death through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption.
Corrosive: Can eat away materials and living tissue by chemical action.  Reactive: Can react with air, water, or other substances and result in explosions or the generation of toxic fumes.  Flammable/Combustible: Can undergo spontaneous combustion at relatively low temperature thereby presenting a significant fire hazard.

Goals of Knoxville’s HHW Program
In April 1997, the City of Knoxville opened the state of Tennessee’s first permanent HHW Collection Center with the following goals:
- To provide a high level of convenience for Knoxville and Knox County residents.
- To maximize diversion of HHW to recycling and re-use options.
- To provide public education aimed at helping people understand the hazards associated with HHW.
- To reduce the community’s liability for the cleanup of contamination resulting from improper HHW disposal.

Who Benefits?
The HHW provides a permanent location for Knoxville and Knox County residents to drop-off hazardous household materials. The service is free of charge and includes:
- Full time staff
- Ongoing public education
- A facility for on-site storage of HHW
- Recycling and re-use of material
Restrictions:  Residents may bring no more than 20 one gallon cans or 100 lbs. of HHW per visit. Only residential material is accepted. Businesses must privately
contract for disposal of wastes.

HHW Collection Center…….215-6700