Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is waste produced in our households that is hazardous in nature, but not regulated as hazardous waste under federal and state laws. HHW is that portion of a household product that is no longer usable, is left-over or unwanted, and has to be disposed of. The labels on hazardous products typically use words like CAUTION, DANGER, WARNING, COMBUSTIBLE, CORROSIVE, EXPLOSIVE, TOXIC, POISON, or FLAMMABLE.
- Be sure to read product labels for disposal directions to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing other hazards.
There is no dedicated drop off facility in Northampton County that accepts household hazardous waste. HHW Collection Events provide Northampton County residents with access to proper HHW disposal. If you reside within the County, you can take HHW products to an annual collection event free of charge. Acceptable waste must be generated in a home, and not affiliated with any commercial business, contractor, nonprofit, organization, institution or out-of-county residence. Staff has the right to determine and refuse unauthorized material. Proof of residency is required.
- If you cannot attend a county collection event, please consider asking a friend or neighbor to take the items to the event for proper disposal.
AS A LAST RESORT
If you are unable to wait for a County program offering, you can consider contacting a hazardous waste company to inquire about disposal of HHW materials from your home (fees will apply), or you may legally dispose of them in your household trash provided that:
- You have looked at the label for any disposal instructions and complied with them.
- Liquids have been allowed to evaporate or have been absorbed by a material such as vermiculite, cat litter, sawdust, etc.
- The material has been carefully packaged (i.e. double bagged) to prevent leakage.
- Large quantities are intermingled with your other household trash in small batches over several collection days.
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HHW PROGRAM
One-day annual collection event are offered to Northampton County residents at no cost to them. The County does not use general fund tax dollars. Disposal costs and coordination are paid for by the Northampton County Recycling and Sustainability Fund, with contributions provided by Waste Management's Grand Central Sanitary and Alliance Landfills. ChemSweep Funds are provided by the PA Department of Agriculture and Support of grants is available through PA Department of Environmental Protection. PADEP offers a reimbursement program that provides 50% match for eligible household hazardous waste program expenses. Northampton Community College has provided use of their facility and assisted with setup and security since 2006. HHW material brought to collection events are collected and treated by a DEP licensed hauler and facility.
Covered Devices defined as electronic waste (Ewaste) are not considered hazardous waste material under Act 190 and does not receive any State funding for proper disposal. Those using Ewaste programs are required to pay fees where they apply.
ANNUAL COLLECTION EVENT
Online pre-registration is required to participate in Northampton County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events. If you do not have an appointment and valid confirmation ticket secured prior to the event date, you will not be able to participate.
Note: An Eventbrite user account is necessary to register for the event. You can create an account at any time.
If you are new to using Eventbrite, please see the Help Center for troubleshooting and questions & answers
UPCOMING COLLECTION EVENT: Saturday, October 4, 2025, by appointment only.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Showing up without an appointment or not at your designated time will result in being turned away. Registration will open on September 4, 2025 at 8:00am.
REGISTRATION LINK: A direct link to secure a timeslot will be provided in the near future. You will not be able to register the day of the event.
Please see the EVENTBRITE REGISTRATION USER INSTRUCTIONS for step-by-step guidance for registration.
(After successfully registering, you will be issued a confirmation email with an event ticket attachment from Eventbrite. Please print your ticket or have your confirmation email accessible on your smart phone for check-in. If you need to cancel your appointment, please do so as soon as possible through your Eventbrite account.)
EVENT CHECK-IN
When to Arrive: Please arrive within your assigned time slot, so that we can safely space out traffic at the site. To avoid traffic congestion, you will be turned away if you arrive at an unscheduled time.
Confirmation Ticket: Have your printed confirmation available so that it can be provided to staff checking in vehicles, or have your ticket ready to view from your smart phone.
Proof of Residency is required. A valid driver’s license or utility bill matching the registration information is required to complete your check-in.
DROP-OFF EVENT GUIDELINES
- Double check the waste items you plan to bring with the list of accepted and restricted materials.
- Place your waste items in your trunk, cargo-area, or truck bed.
- Remove items from these areas that are not intended for the event.
- You may arrive any time within your registered appointment window.
- Event workers will unload your materials. Remain in your vehicle and unlock the trunk or rear gate for event staff to access boxed materials.
- Keep chemicals in their original container and never mix products. If you can't read the label mark "unknown".
- Make certain all containers are tightly sealed to avoid spillage. Pack newspaper around leaking containers.
- Be prepared to drop off and leave behind any container with liquid (such as gas cans).
- If it is necessary to have your containers returned, write "RETURN" on a note and attach it to the container. You will be directed to pull out of line until the container is emptied and can be given to you.
- Transport chemicals in a cardboard box. NO plastic tubs. The time spent emptying plastic tubs for return slows down the collection line.
- Quick drop-offs are not accepted and will be treated as illegal dumps.
- The County will NOT accept wastes from businesses, contractors, municipalities, non-profits, organizations, institutions and out-of-county households – you will be turned away.
- There is a limit of 50 gallons or 90 lbs. of solid material waste per participating household. No 25- or 50-gallon drums will be accepted.
CANCELLATION
If you need to cancel your appointment, please to so as soon as possible so others waiting for an opening can reserve their spot. To cancel your appointment you must log into your Eventbrite account to do so.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME: Time changes cannot be made after you have registered. You must cancel your appointment and re-register. Multiple appointments with matching addresses will be deleted, leaving only the original appointment. There is no guarantee that appointment will be available after you cancel.
Please see the 2025 HHW EVENT FLYER for accepted and restricted materials.
An explanation of the HHW drop-off event can be found in the 2025 HHW EVENT PROCEDURES OVERVIEW.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MY HHW AFTER I DROP IT OFF?
A licensed hazardous waste company will be on site to receive, sort, package, load and transport all collected HHW off site to an approved disposal facility. Treatment methods include fuels blending, recycling, incineration, neutralization, and reuse.
PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES
Collection events are for residents living within the boundaries of Northampton County. The only materials permitted for acceptance are unwanted or expired products intended for residential use.
