Household Chemicals

SPRING COLLECTIONS — see complete 2025 schedule below

Saturday, April 12 – BUTLER COUNTY, Karns City Jr/Sr High School, Karns City

Saturday, May 3 – ALLEGHENY COUNTY, North Park, McCandless

Saturday, June 7 – CAMBRIA COUNTY, Central Cambria High School, Ebensburg  REGISTER

Saturday, June 14 – FAYETTE COUNTY, Fayette County Recycling Convenience Center, Uniontown  REGISTER

Saturday, June 28 – WASHINGTON COUNTY, Washington Crown Center, Washington   REGISTER
also collecting tires at this event — click here for details

Since 2003, Pennsylvania Resources Council has hosted Household Chemical Collection Events in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The program is made possible by the support of many partners and volunteers. The events have directly resulted in the safe management of 6,000,000 lbs of household chemicals.

The events are restricted to household quantities of household chemicals. If you have materials generated by a business or other commercial source, please contact us for assistance. For events outside of Western Pennsylvania, please contact your County Recycling Coordinator. We also have information for counties we partner with at our events.

Procedures & Fee Structure

  • Registration Required
  • $20 fee for every 10 gallons/50 lbs per vehicle assessed on all participants
  • All forms of payment accepted
  • All items MUST be placed in car trunk or truck bed
  • Remain in your vehicle at all times while contractor unloads materials

Additional Fees

  • $12 per fire extinguisher
  • $15 per pound of liquid mercury
  • Oversized loads – fee to be determined at the discretion of on-site staff

PRC strives to keep the cost of these services as affordable as possible. Fees charged to event participants cover less than 25% of the programs cost. The remaining costs are supported by the State of PA, County Government sponsors, and through grants from charitable foundations and contributors.

2025 Household Chemical Collection Events

Saturday, April 12 – BUTLER COUNTY    
Karns City Jr/Sr High School, Karns City

Saturday, May 3 – ALLEGHENY COUNTY     
North Park, McCandless

Saturday, June 7 – CAMBRIA COUNTY     REGISTER
Central Cambria High School, Ebensburg

Saturday, June 14 – FAYETTE COUNTY     REGISTER
Fayette County Recycling Convenience Center, Uniontown

Saturday, June 28 – WASHINGTON COUNTY     REGISTER
Washington Crown Center, Washington

Registration for events taking place during the second half of the season will open this summer:

August 16 – Boyce Park, Allegheny County

September 6 – South Park, Allegheny County

October 4 – Bradys Run Park Recycling Center, Beaver County

 

Please Note: All Household Chemical Collection events are held on Saturdays April through October, from 9 am – 1 pm, rain or shine.

We realize that our program schedule will not meet everyone’s needs. We strive to make our events accessible to the greatest number of people in the region we serve. If you are unable to attend, consider approaching a friend, neighbor or relative for assistance.

https://HHWinWashington.eventbrite.comHousehold Hazardous Waste Inquires

If you have questions, regarding Household Chemical Collections, please call 412-488-7490

What Can You Bring?

  • Aerosol cans
  • Automotive fluids (e.g., motor oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, kerosene, brake fluid)
  • Batteries
  • Camp fuel/small propane bottles
  • Chemistry sets
  • Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs: bulbs only- we do not accept fluorescent tubes)
  • Electronic cigarettes
  • Gasoline and kerosene
  • Household cleaners (ammonia, drain openers, acid cleaners, oven cleaners)
  • Mercury thermometers
  • Paint products (latex, oil based, alkyd based, arts/crafts chemicals, rust preservatives, creosote, water sealers, paint thinners, furniture strippers)
  • Pesticides/garden (rodent killers, insecticides, weed killers, mothballs, fertilizer)
  • Photo chemicals
  • Pool chemicals
  • Smoke Detectors

  • Ammunition
  • Appliances
  • Commercial and industrial waste
  • Compressed gas cylinders (large grill/medical)
  • Explosives
  • Flares
  • Fluorescent tubes
  • Leaking containers
  • Medical waste (including needles and sharps)
  • Prescription or non-prescription drugs
  • PCBs and dioxins
  • Radioactive materials
  • Tires
  • Anything in leaky containers

Tip: To avoid spills and damage to your vehicle, never put leaky containers into your car. If possible, transfer materials to a new container. Preserve the label and place in a zippered plastic bag to keep with replacement container. If you can’t transfer the material, you can isolate the leaky item by placing it in a zippered plastic bag, plastic bucket, cardboard box, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

We take various types of chemicals and hazardous waste. Please refer to the What to bring section on this page.

We accept all forms of payment: cash, checks, credit and debit cards.

Yes. The event is a drive-through event, so participants must stay in their vehicles. We work alongside hazardous waste contractors on site who unload materials from all participant vehicles.

No — Don’t waste paper printing out the ticket. We can scan the ticket QR code on a smart phone or we can look you up by name.

The line shuts at 1 pm, and everyone who is in line by 1 pm will have their materials unloaded.

The complete fire extinguisher has to be dismantled. This starts with the de-pressurization of the extinguisher, then the valve & valve stem must be removed. Any un-discharged flame retardant material must be poured out and collected and is actually kept in containers around the facility and can then be used on spills and fire prevention within the facility.

The best method of managing household chemical waste is to prevent its generation in the first place. This involves selecting the least toxic item “to do the job” and buying the minimum amounts necessary, as well as pressuring producers to make less toxic alternatives. Buying large quantities of a chemical product can result in left overs.

If the material is still usable (e.g., undamaged, still within designated shelf life), check with friends and neighbors to see if they can use it. You can also check with community groups such as Habitat for Humanity to see if they can use the product.

LATEX paint is able to be disposed of in household trash once dry – to learn about how to dispose of latex paint at home CLICK HERE.

To learn more, you can visit our Household Hazardous Waste Safe & Health Home Guide.

Interested in volunteering at a collection event?

Take Action

Collection Event Sponsors & Program Partners

  • Allegheny County Health Department
  • Beaver County Commissioners
  • Cambria County Solid Waste Authority
  • Fayette County Commissioners
  • Washington County Planning Commission

  • Allegheny County Parks Department
  • Central Cambria School District
  • Fayette County Recycling Convenience Center
  • Colcom Foundation
  • HF Sinclair
  • Karns City Area School District
  • PA Department of Environmental Protection
  • Pennsylvania American Water
  • Sonneborn, LLC
  • The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies
  • 90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP