NYC SAFE Disposal Events
(Solvents, Automotive, Flammable, Electronics)
  

Following overwhelming turnouts at the 2012 NYC SAFE Disopsal Events, The NYC Department of Sanitation plans to hold five SAFE Disposal Events each spring (one in each borough) to provide NYC residents with a one-stop method to get rid of potentially harmful household products.

Commonly used household products can be harmful to you, your family, your pets, city workers, and the environment if improperly stored, used, or discarded.

upcoming events
tips
alternatives
electronics and paint
poison help hotline 

ALSO SEE:
harmful household products
electronics recycling

Upcoming Events

Check back in early 2013 for the schedule of dates and locations for the next round of NYC SAFE Disposal Events.

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Tips

• Products labeled with the following signal words are typically considered harmful household products: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION. Products labeled DANGER represent the highest hazard level.
• Use non-toxic products whenever possible.
• When purchasing harmful household products, buy the right amount so you don't have excess materials to discard.

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Alternative Disposal Options

You don't have to wait until a SAFE Disposal event to get rid of certain harmful household products. Every product marked with a green asterisk (*) below has alternative disposal options. Click on the product for information. Please note, those marked with a red x are banned from disposal.

Except for items banned from disposal, and when there are no other options, small quantities of most harmful household products can be dried up and discarded as trash.

Items such as alkaline batteries and latex (water-based) paint no longer contain harmful materials and can be discarded in the trash. Latex paint must be dried out before the empty can is recycled; or you can pursue reuse options.

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Tips about Electronics and Paint

Electronics and paint are probably the two most common harmful household products, and represent the two most abundant materials brought to NYC SAFE Disposal Events. See below for detailed information about alternative disposal methods.

ELECTRONICS

Recycling through a Legally-Mandated Program Funded by Electronics Manufacturers:
(at no cost to residents and no purchase required)

• COMPUTERS & RELATED DEVICES: accepted at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Best Buy, and Staples.
• COMPUTERS, TVs & RELATED DEVICES: accepted at Salvation Army, Best Buy, and the Lower East Side Ecology Center's collection center at 469 President Street in Brooklyn (718-858-8777).
• FOR MORE OPTIONS, visit recycling of electronics and peripherals.

Donating: To find a place to donate your electronics for reuse, visit the NYC Stuff Exchange website .

Trash Disposal: Until 2015, electronics may be discarded as trash.

PAINT

Donating: To find a place to donate paint for reuse, visit the NYC Stuff Exchange website .

DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Sites: Latex paint can be dropped off at any of the NYC Department of Sanitation’s household special waste drop-off sites listed below. NYC residents can bring up to five gallons per visit. No oil-based paint accepted. The sites are open from 10 am to 5 pm on the last Friday of each month and every Saturday, except for
the last Saturday of each month. 

Trash Disposal: Latex and oil-based paint can be dried out and discarded as trash. Remove lid and use kitty litter, newspaper, or other absorbent material to soak up paint. Empty metal paint cans should be recycled. Non-metal paint cans should be discarded as trash.

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Poison Help Hotline

If you think a family member (or pet) has been exposed to a harmful product, call the NYC Poison Control Center  Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. The Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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