Let's Talk Trash -- Protecting water quality starts with each of us!

Hazardous Waste Disposal

red light bulletProducts that are hazardous should not go down your sink, toilet, storm drains or in the trash can. A product is hazardous if the label says: CAUTION-WARNING-DANGER-POISON.

red light bulletAvoid hazardous products when you shop. Read the label first!

Read labels -- highest hazards are Danger, Poison (avoid these products); Moderate hazards are Caution or Warning; Safest products do not have Caution, Warning, Danger, Poison

green light bulletChoose products with little or no scent; avoid aerosols.

green light bulletBuy only what you need.


green light bulletFollow label instructions. For more information, view a list of safer household products (provided by Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County).

green light bulletQuestions about products or disposal? Call the Household Hazards Line at 206-296-4692, Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for times and disposal locations near you.

Bring household hazardous waste to any of the following sites for free disposal

King County Household Hazardous Waste Facilities (view disposal options)

Bellevue-Factoria Drop-Off Service*
No appointment required.
13800 SE 32nd St., Bellevue
Open Tuesday thru Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays

South Seattle*
No appointment required.
8105 Fifth Ave. South
Open Thursday thru Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays

North Seattle*
Appointment required.
Open Sunday thru Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call Households Hazards Line
206-296-4692 or 1-888-869-4233; 711 TTY

*Please note quantity limits and restrictions. Learn more at
www.govlink/hazwaste/house/disposal/.

When it comes to disposal...     

Drains, toilets and trash cans are not all the same. Disposing of trash down drains and toilets can lead to sewer overflows and back-ups that can cause harm to human health and our local environment.

In the kitchen | In the bathroom

Disposing of trash down drains and toilets can lead to sewer overflows and back-ups that can cause harm to human health and our local environment.

In the kitchen

  • grease & produce stickers = trash
  • food = garbage disposal or compost

Grease sticks to household and sewage pipes. Over time, grease build-up will block the entire pipe and result in raw sewage backing up into your home or overflowing into the street or waterway. Follow these four simple steps to keep things running smoothly.

  • Don't put produce stickers down the drainDon't put produce stickers down the drain.
  • Don't put grease, fats, or oil of any type down your drain or garbage disposal.
  • Do use baskets or strainers in sink drains to catch food scrapsDo use baskets or strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids and empty them into the trash or compost them.
  • Do scrape grease and food scraps from cooking surfaces into a container and put in the trash can, or compost them.

Back to top.

In the bathroom

Think trash not toilets. Flushing the wrong thing down the toilet damages your household plumbing, your environment and the wastewater treatment system. If it isn't biodegradable, put it in the trash instead of the toilet.

List of items that belong in trash can -- click for larger view

These items belong in the trash can. View as PDF file (641KB).

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© 2009 King County



Related news 

August 18, 2009 -- Flushing wipes may cost you (external link)

July 29, 2009 -- Commentary: Don't flush trouble (external link)

May 26, 2009 -- What not to flush; A magical mystery tour - and a cautionary tale - of Juneau's sewer lines (external link)

Related information

Don't Flush Trouble! Click to enlarge.
Put used cleaning wipes, cloths and pads in the trash, NOT the toilet! (PDF)

Can the wipes
Can the wipes (external link -- Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, Oregon)

toilet How to Get Rid of Stuff You Don't Want or Need--recommended methods for disposing of residential and household waste.

Things You Can Do to Protect Your Environment--links to information about things you can do to protect your home and family, the wastewater treatment process, and water quality.

Eliminating Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) from our Sewers--lists common household sources of grease, potential results of a grease-blocked sewer pipe, and what you can do to keep fats, oils and greases out of the sewer.

Bert the Salmon's Tips for Saving Water--things you can do to conserve water inside and outside your home.

King County Sound Tips--King County-sponsored events and opportunities, and some "Sound Tips" to help everyone make a difference.

Getting Pharmaceuticals Out of Our Water--Video Public Service Message
U.S. EPA, Region 9, Water Program

Medicine Take Back Program, (external link)

Brochure cover -- click to view .PDF file (641KB) A brochure of this web page is available as a PDF file (641KB).
>> Now available in Spanish - Disponible en espanol (.PDF file, 973KB)