- Departments
- Environmental Services
- Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste
Join us for the 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 8:00am to noon.
Residents of Orono and Old Town (proof of residency required) can drop off household hazardous waste materials to:
- Recycling Center
- 246 Gilman Falls Avenue
- Old Town, ME
This event gives an opportunity for residents to discard of their household hazardous waste responsibly so it does not harmfully pollute our environment and landfills.
ACCEPTABLE ITEMS INCLUDE:
- Car batteries/Car tires
- Waste gasoline/kerosene
- Propane cylinders
- Pesticides/Insecticides
- Computers/TV Monitors
- Oil Paint/Thinners
- Engine degreasers
- Transmission fluids
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Aerosol cans
- Cleaners and chemicals
ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE:
- Ammunition
- Fireworks/Explosives
- Prescription medicine/syringes
- Latex paint
- Infectious and biological waste
- Unknown pressurized cylinders
TO ENSURE SAFETY:
- Leave waste in original containers
- Never mix chemicals
- Never smoke while handling hazardous materials
- Pack containers in sturdy upright boxes, not plastic garbage bags
- Pack your vehicle and go directly to the drop off site
What if I cannot wait for the Hazardous Waste Collection Day?
We encourage recycling and reducing the amount of these wastes that are disposed of in an inappropriate manner. Please see the universal waste collection programs below.
1. The Thermostat Recycling Corporation pays $5 each for mercury thermostats returned through HVAC wholesalers and participating retailers. To prevent mercury pollution, recycle your mercury thermostats. Just bring your old mercury thermostat to your local participating hardware store for an in-store $5.00 credit, or to an HVAC wholesaler to receive a receipt to be followed by a check in the mail for $5.00 for each mercury thermostat you turn in for recycling. See http://www.maine.gov/dep/
- Aubuchon Hardware: 486 STILLWATER AVE. OLD TOWN, ME 04468
- Many locations in Bangor and Brewer
2. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation takes back Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium-Ion and small sealed lead acid rechargeable batteries. Call2Recycle offers a free recycling program for rechargeable batteries, including those from power tools, in laptops and tablets, and other portable electronic products. The program also accepts cell phones, and small sealed lead acid batteries. These items are collected at participating retail stores, businesses and governmental agencies. See http://maine.gov/dep/
- Bangor: Lowes, Staples, Home Depot
3. The Automobile Manufacturers take back mercury switches from motor vehicles when they are dismantled. There are two separate programs, one for passenger vehicles including pickup trucks and one for medium and heavy-duty trucks.
a. Passenger Vehicle Program. In Maine, automobile companies pay for the collection and recycling of mercury switches. Auto dismantlers can sign up with the End of Life Vehicle Solutions (ELVS) program to receive a free collection bucket and $4 for each switch collected.. Go to http://maine.gov/dep/waste/
b. Medium and Heavy Truck Program. The Truck Manufacturers Association on behalf of their members operates the truck program. The White & Bradstreet facility in Augusta serves as the consolidation facility for this program. Dismantlers of medium and heavy-duty trucks can take their mercury switches along with their log sheets to the White & Bradstreet facility and receive a $4 bounty per switch.
4. E-waste Program. The Electronics Manufacturers' Take Back Program takes televisions, computer monitors, desktop printers, game consoles, e-readers, and tablets from households, K-12 schools, and businesses (for profit & non-profit) with 100 or fewer employees. See http://www.maine.gov/dep/
- Click here for a map that shows places where you can recycle e-waste.
- Additionally, you can take these to the Orono/Old Town Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day
5. Mercury-added lamp (fluorescent light bulb) program. Go to https://www.maine.gov/dep/
6. Architectural paint recycling program. This program offers free recycling of interior and exterior architectural coatings (both latex and oil-based) sold in containers of 5 gallons or less that is unused but intended for painting components of houses or other buildings. There are convenient drop-off locations across the state, and the program offers a large volume pick-up service to help contractors clean out stockpiles of old paint. Go to http://maine.gov/dep/waste/
- Aubuchon Hardware: 486 STILLWATER AVE. OLD TOWN, ME 04468
- Sherwin-Williams: 625 BROADWAY. BANGOR, ME 04401
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Megan Hess
Environmental Services Coordinator