Household Hazardous Waste

Scottsdale Solid Waste Services provides scheduled household hazardous waste collection at your home for residents who pay for residential waste collection services. This program is for residential utility customers only. Each residential address can have up to three (3) collections per year for free.

2025 Collection Months:

Availability:

Signups open on the 1st of each month at 8 a.m., and close when full.

Step 1:

Fill out the Hazardous Waste Home Collection application and explain the type of waste you wish to have picked up from your home.

Step 2:

You will receive one confirmation email indicating you are set for collection. You will also receive a 2nd email with the exact date of collection and instructions.

Step 3:

Ensure that you set out your items for collection by 7 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. All containers must be clearly labeled to identify their contents, sealed if necessary, and placed out front at the edge of the property labeled as HHW (Hazardous Household Waste). The largest container eligible for collection is 5 gallons. You are eligible to have up to 20 gallons of waste picked up per appointment. Please note that the size limit is based on containers, not volume.

• The household hazardous waste program is for hazardous materials generated from residences only – no commercial hazardous materials will be accepted.
• Material should be tightly sealed in its original container, if possible, and placed in a cardboard box. Glass containers should be wrapped in towels, cloth or packaged in some other way to prevent breakage.
• If you are not a single-family home resident with Scottsdale solid waste services, check your local auto parts, home improvement or battery store: many will accept specific household hazardous waste items and properly dispose of them.

Disposing of Used Fireworks

Steps:

1. After your fireworks display, collect all used fireworks. Even if they appear burnt out, they can retain heat internally.
2. Submerge the used fireworks in a bucket of water overnight to ensure any remaining sparks or embers are completely extinguished.
3. The next day, remove the soaked fireworks from the water.
4. Place the wet fireworks into a plastic bag to avoid any leakage.
5. Dispose of the bagged fireworks in your garbage can.

Disposing of Unused Fireworks

Steps:

1. Gather any fireworks that were not ignited.
2. Submerge these unused fireworks in a large bucket of water. Soaking times vary depending on the size—small fireworks may require at least 15 minutes, while larger ones might need to soak overnight, according to safety experts.
3. Once thoroughly saturated, remove the fireworks from the water.
4. Double-wrap the soaked fireworks in plastic wrap or use two plastic bags to ensure they remain moist and are safely contained.
5. Place the double-bagged fireworks into a larger trash bag.
6. Dispose of the bag with your regular household trash.

By following these steps, you can safely dispose of both used and unused fireworks, minimizing the risk of accidental ignition and ensuring environmental safety.

Lithium-ion batteries are considered hazardous waste and should never be placed in your trash or recycling containers. These batteries—commonly found in electronics, power tools, scooters, vapes, and electric toothbrushes—pose a serious fire risk if punctured or damaged during collection or processing.

To properly dispose of lithium-ion batteries:

• Schedule a curbside HHW pickup through the city's online request system.
• Place batteries in a clear, sealed plastic bag and label them clearly.
• If the battery is swollen, corroded, or damaged, do not attempt to handle it yourself—contact the HHW team for specific instructions.

Improper disposal of pharmaceuticals has contributed to trace contaminants being detected in lakes, rivers, and groundwater across the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Instead, follow these steps for safe disposal:

1. Place the medication in a watertight container.
2. Add warm water to dissolve it into a paste.
3. Mix in an undesirable substance, such as dish soap, coffee grounds, or kitty litter, to deter pets or animals.
4. Seal the container in a bag and place it in your black trash receptacle for regular collection.

For larger quantities or controlled substances, consider participating in local pharmacy take-back programs or DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events.

For your safety and the safety of our crews, sharps such as needles, syringes and lancets should never be placed loosely in trash or recycling containers. Loose sharps create serious injury risks for sanitation workers and can contaminate recyclables.

Residents are asked to place used sharps in a puncture-proof container, such as a rigid plastic bottle with a secure lid or metal can. When the container is full, seal it tightly (with tape) and label it “Do Not Recycle—Sharps.” Place the sealed container in your black trash bin for safe disposal.

Sharps should NEVER be placed in the pink recycling bin. Recycling facilities are not equipped to handle medical waste, and any sharps found contaminate entire loads of otherwise recyclable material.