The Household Hazardous Waste events for 2022 will take place on the following Saturdays:
- March 19
- April 23*- fourth Saturday due to Easter
- May 21
- June 18
- July 16*
- August 20
- September 17
- October 15
- November 19*
The next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event will be Saturday, March 19, 2022 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. HHW events are a way for residents to dispose of hazardous materials safely. Decals are not required, but residents will need to show their NC Driver License with their current address. HHW is only for households; no hazardous waste from businesses will be accepted.
At HHW events, the county accepts such items as oil-based paints, solvents, stains, bleach, aerosols, cleaners, pesticides, brake fluid, fluorescent light bulbs, propane tanks, etc. For a complete list, please visit the Household Hazardous Waste webpage or contact the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at 919-542-5516 or recycle@chathamnc.org
New Latex Paint Limit
Since 2021, residents will only be allowed to bring 20 gallons of latex paint cans to each Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event.
Approximately 60% of all the material brought to HHW events is liquid latex paint. It is the most costly item we collect in total. Yet, latex paint is only hazardous when in a liquid form. Latex paint can easily be dried out and thrown away with your regular trash. This new paint limit will help Solid Waste & Recycling save our budget to handle more hazardous wastes.
Residents can bring 20 gallons of latex paint cans per HHW event. If you have a 1 gallon paint can that has half a gallon of paint in it, it will count as 1 gallon. Feel free to combine partial cans of paint, as long as they are all latex paint. Please note that this new rule only applies to latex paint. Any other type of paint (oil-based, spray, etc.) cannot be hardened, so residents should bring it to an HHW event and there is no limit.
Latex paint can be safely dried out and put in with your regular trash, whether at the 12 Collection Centers (current decal required) or in your curbside trash. It does not have to be completely solidified– more like a paste; as long as the latex paint can no longer run out of the can.
To dry latex paint:
- Take off the lid and let it sit outside in a covered area, so it does not get rained on.
- Add kitty litter, sand, or sawdust.
Instead of drying it up, you can also paint something, then throw that item away once the paint is dry.
Do not bring dried paint cans to HHW events; throw them away in your regular trash. Attendants at the Collection Centers may ask to check that the paint is dry.
HHW events are held the third Saturday of each month, March through November.
