Harris County Household Hazardous Waste Facility

Can I use it?

What to bring

• Only items used in a home for household purposes
• No waste from businesses, churches, schools, non-profits or other non-residential places
• City of Houston residents must use the City of Houston facilities
• You may bring a neighbor's or relative's items if they fit in your vehicle; you may not hold your own collection drive

When to go

By appointment only. Tuesday and Wednesday 9am to 3pm. 2nd and 4th Saturday 9am to 2pm. Closed the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, and may close in bad weather (call 346-286-4294).

You need an appointment.

Book a time online before you go. Enter your full address and a working email; you will get a confirmation and a reminder. Print them.

What they take

• Cleaners and household chemicals
• Old paint
• Stains, thinners and solvents
• Weed and bug killers, fertilizer
• Aerosol cans
• Pool chemicals
• Car fluids (antifreeze, brake fluid)
• Motor oil
• Gas and other fuels
• Tires
• Cooking oil
• Car batteries
• Household batteries
• Mercury and thermostats
• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes
• Fire extinguishers
• Propane tanks

In their words: household cleaners, paint and paint related products (latex, oil-based, varnishes, thinners, etc.), yard products (fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, etc.), aerosol cans (except Freon and mace), pool chemicals, automobile products (cleaners, polishes, motor oil, antifreeze, etc.), gasoline, tires, fats, oils, and greases (FOG), batteries (small to car battery size), items containing mercury (thermometers, thermostats, etc.), CFL bulbs, fluorescent tubes, LED lights, halogen, household fire extinguishers, small and BBQ-sized propane cylinders, over-the-counter medications.

Needles and sharps: not taken here.

What they turn away

• ✕electronics (computers, TVs, etc.)
• ✕traditional recyclables (paper, cans, plastic, glass, etc.)
• ✕radioactive waste (including smoke detectors)
• ✕items used at a business, church, school, non-profit, or not used at home
• ✕household appliances
• ✕medical and biological waste (including needles and sharps)
• ✕explosives (including ammunition, gun powder, and firecrackers)
• ✕prescription medications
• ✕compressed gas cylinders other than BBQ and small propane cylinders and fire extinguishers (including carbon dioxide and helium)
• ✕heavy trash (furniture, woody debris, construction debris) and household trash
• ✕empty paint containers and dried latex paint
• ✕incandescent bulbs
• ✕Freon
• ✕mace
• ✕pool chemical containers holding another product

Limits per visit

• Containers: 5 gallons or smaller (some pool chemicals in 6 to 7 gallon containers are OK)
• Paint: 30 containers of 1 and 5 gallons combined (quarts and pints not counted)
• Gasoline: 20 gallons per day
• Tires: 4 per household each month

What it costs

Eligible residents

Free · No charge for services

Where it is

Other options they point to

Take prescription medicines to a DEA drug take-back event or a DEA-registered collection site (DEA Texas office: 210-442-5600). City of Houston residents must use the City of Houston Environmental Service Centers. Reusable building materials can go to the City of Houston ReUse Warehouse (281-814-3324).

Good to know

Enter from Hahl Road, at 290 and Gessner. Pack items in a box or plastic bin, not a trash bag. Keep lids tight and labels on. Do not mix chemicals or combine half-full containers. Keep pool chemicals away from gas, oil, paint and cleaners, and keep bleach away from ammonia. Put the box in the trunk or truck bed. Broken fluorescent bulbs can go in your trash.