Having our trash collected once a week is wonderfully convenient. It keeps our homes and streets clean. However, some things don’t belong in the land-fill – things that are toxic to the air and land we live on. Safe disposal options may not be as convenient, but these methods are better for our health and the future of generations to come.

These things should NOT go in your garbage can:

• Fuels
• Paint
• Pesticides
• Yard care chemicals
• Many cleaning supplies
• Batteries
• Cooking oil
• Automotive fluids and products
• Aerosols
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Devices that contain mercury
• Televisions/monitors
• Computers and peripherals
• Cell phones
• Sharps/medication needles
• Unused or expired medication
• Antifreeze
• Car batteries
• Car oil
• Nonalkaline batteries (lithium, NiMH, NiCd, etc.)

What to do instead

Unused Medications

Be responsible and dispose of expired and unused medications. Find the nearest drop off center here: Drug Disposal Locations

Sharps

Used sharps should always be placed in strong, plastic containers. When these containers are nearly full, they should be sealed and properly disposed of, either in a trash can or at a collection center. You can purchase sharps disposal containers online or at pharmacies, or in your own strong, plastic container—like an empty laundry detergent or bleach bottle—until the container is three-quarters full. Then screw the lid on tightly, and use strong tape to further secure it. Sharps should never be recycled.

Once you have secured the container, you can dispose of it in your regular trash can, or take it to a collection facility. Find the nearest one to you here: Search Results – Safe Needle Disposal

Common Household Batteries

Alkaline batteries (such as common AA, AAA, C, and D batteries) are generally not hazardous and can be disposed of in your trash can if you follow these precautions:

• Gather used alkaline batteries in a cardboard box or plastic container to prevent sparks.
• Tape 9-volt terminals to prevent fire risk.

Drop off to Salt Lake County Hazardous Waste

Disposal of common household amounts is free for people who live in Salt Lake County. Here are some common materials we accept:

• Fuels
• Paint
• Pesticides
• Yard care chemicals
• Many cleaning supplies
• Batteries
• Cooking oil
• Automotive fluids and products
• Aerosols
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Devices that contain mercury
• Televisions/monitors
• Computers and peripherals
• Cell phones
• Antifreeze
• Car batteries
• Car oil

If you have any questions, please contact Salt Lake County Hazardous Waste:

Phone Number – (385) 468-4380 – The office is often on the phone with customers. If the line is busy, please call back periodically until you reach someone.

Hours – Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Drop-Off Address – 8805 South 700 West, Sandy, Utah 84070

Prepare for drop-off at SLCo Hazardous Waste

• Sort your household hazardous waste by type and separate it from common garbage (do not bring garbage).
• Transport in a sturdy container. Do not transport waste in plastic bags; it creates a hazard for our employees.
• Make sure containers are upright and secure.
• Be prepared to offload waste from your own vehicle to one of our carts.
• If you have lab grade chemicals or items such as organic peroxide, mercury, picric acid, hydrofluoric acid, contact the Household Hazardous Waste Program before you drop it off: 385-468-3862.
• We cannot accept explosives or radioactive materials.

Hazardous Waste FAQ

• My medication bottle says it can be thrown out or flushed, do I have to take it to a drop-off center? It is illegal to flush medications in West Jordan. Please dispose of all medications at location listed here: https://safe.pharmacy/drug-disposal/

• Someone else in my family could use my medication, it would save me money to share instead of buying more. Why can’t I give it to them?
  • It is illegal in Utah to use someone else’s prescription medication. Why? Because prescription misuse is dangerous. Misuse can lead to substance abuse disorders that affect people of all ages, races and economic status.
  • In 2023, 8.6 million people misused prescription pain relievers. Painkillers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives are more likely to cause dependence and addiction, leading individuals to seek them despite harmful effects.
  • Some medication misuse are accidents: 35,000 emergency room visits are unintentional overdoses in children under 5 years old. Over 90% of those visits are because a caregiver wasn’t paying attention. 450,000 calls to poison centers each year are for children under 6 years old who have accidentally ingested medication.

• What are “sharps”?
  • “Sharps” is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin.  This includes any needles, syringes, lancets, auto injectors, injection pents, infusion sets or connection needles/sets that are used to administer medication.

• Who uses sharps? Millions of people self-administer medication for conditions such as allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, infertility, migraines, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, blood clotting disorders, psoriasis and more.

• Why is safe sharps disposal important? Accidental needle sticks may cause injury to you and others – proper disposal is essential.  Even sharps that retract after use, or are very small, should be disposed of like all other sharps.

• Can I just replace the lid on my used sharp? Used sharps—including those that retract after use or are very small—should ALWAYS be placed in a strong, plastic container that’s sealed before the container is disposed of.

• Can used sharps—or used sharps containers—be put in the recycling? No. Used sharps can NEVER be recycled—either on their own or sealed in a strong, plastic container.

• If I use a needle clipper or destroyer to remove the needle from a syringe, can I throw the syringe in my household trash?Once you have safely removed the needle from the syringe, the remaining plastic piece can be placed directly in your household trash. The sharp needs to be in a large, plastic disposable container.

• Why do I need to bring my liquid paint to you? Liquid paint is hazardous, but if you thicken it with commercial products, or let it dry first, you can dispose of it in your regular trash.

• Why do I need to bring used cooking oil to you? Liquid cooking oil is hazardous. If you have thickening products, you can use them to solidify the oil and then throw it away in your regular trash.

• After all this advice, I still don’t know what to do. Please call Hazardous Waste with any questions: Phone Number – (385) 468-4380. The office is often on the phone with customers. If the line is busy, please call back periodically until you reach someone.