A cluttered garage filled with various household items and tools. Text overlay reads 'Household Hazardous Waste Collection' with details about accepting items listed on municipal websites, proof of residency required, and event date and time.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal

Household hazardous waste (HHW) refers to discarded household products that contain toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive ingredients. It is illegal to dispose of these materials in regular trash, down the drain, or into storm drains because they pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment.

See your municipal website for more information on Household Hazardous Waste Days in your community.

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Impacts on Water Quality

Household hazardous waste (HHW) severely harms water quality by releasing toxic chemicals (like heavy metals, solvents, pesticides) into groundwater and surface water through drains, soil, or landfills, creating "dead zones," poisoning aquatic life, damaging septic systems, and making water unsafe for humans and wildlife, impacting entire ecosystems and food chains

Check out these local services in Cumberland County:

Casella Waste Services

Their Westbrook location accepts bulky items, universal waste, construction & demolition debris, and electronic waste.

Riverside Recycles

They accept household hazardous waste on the 1st Saturday of the month (April through November). They also accept construction & demolition debris, appliances, tires, electronic waste, and more.

PaintCare

PaintCare offers drop-off sites throughout Maine where the public can take unwanted paint for recycling.