Hazardous Wastes

Curous about what you can dump down the drain?

From the City of Tampa Waste Water website:

Hazardous Wastes

What should be done with these materials?
The largest problem with hazardous materials is that many people just pour them down the drain at home, without thought or concern for others. If only it were that easy! Unfortunately, Wastewater treatment plants, including ours, are simply not designed or able to handle many of these hazardous wastes.

Putting these wastes into landfills has not become a viable solution either. Unless the landfill has been specially designed to handle such materials, then groundwater, surface water, and air can all be polluted. So, the question becomes: If we cannot get rid of these materials through the sewers or in landfills, what do we do instead? Depending on the material(s), there are several recommended ways of disposal, as shown below.



Substances marked "drain" can be poured down the drain, but with plenty of water. The exception to this rule is if you own a septic tank. The label on a substance should contain information about any possible damage it can cause to a septic tank.

Substances marked "trash" are materials that cannot be poured down a drain, but are safe to thrown away for collection.

Substances coded "hazardous" should be saved either to be given to a hazardous wastes contractor or for a community wide collection day.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL LISTING
Type of Waste Disposal Method
Aerosol cans (empty) trash
Alcohol Based Lotions drain
Aluminum Cleaners drain
Ammonia Based Cleaners drain
Ammunition hazardous
Antifreeze drain
Auto Body Repair Products trash
Bathroom Cleaners drain
Battery/Battery Acid hazardous
Brake Fluid hazardous
Bug Sprays hazardous
Car Wax w/Solvent hazardous
Cutting Oil hazardous
Depilatories drain
Diesel Fuel hazardous
Disinfectants drain
Drain Cleaners drain
Dry Cleaning Solvents hazardous
Fertilizer trash
Fiberglass Epoxy hazardous
Floor Care Products hazardous
Fuel Oil hazardous
Fungicide hazardous
Furniture Polish hazardous
Gasoline hazardous
Glue- Solvent based hazardous
Glue- Water based drain
Gun Cleaning Solvents hazardous
Hair Relaxers drain
Herbicide hazardous
Insecticide hazardous
Kerosene hazardous
Lighter Fluid hazardous
Medicine (expired) drain
Metal Polish w/Solvent hazardous
Mercury Batteries hazardous
Moth Balls hazardous
Oil (All types of motor) hazardous
Nail Polish trash
Oven Cleaner (Lye Base) trash
Paint- Latex based trash
Paint- All other types hazardous
Paint Brush Cleaner w/Solvent hazardous
Paint Brush Cleaner w/TSP drain
Paint Stripper- Lye base drain
Paint Stripper- All others hazardous
Paint Thinner hazardous
Permanent Lotions drain
Primer hazardous
Rat Poison hazardous
Rust Remover w/Phosphoric Acid drain
Shoe Polish trash
Swimming Pool Acid hazardous
Toilet Bowl Cleaner drain
Transmission Fluid hazardous
Tub and Tile Cleaners drain
Turpentine hazardous
Varnish hazardous
Weed Killer hazardous
Window Cleaner drain
Windshield Washer Fluid drain
Wood Preservative hazardous