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Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Collection

Many of the products we use every day contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to our health and the environment. Improper disposal of the products listed below can pollute our environment and cause injury to collection workers. It is our responsibility therefore to properly use, store, and dispose of hazardous waste. All household hazardous waste will is environmentally disposed of by a licensed hazardous waste disposal firm.
Page updated on January 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM

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Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center Location & Hours

City of Alexandria's HHW Facility at Colvin St

Location: 3224 Colvin Street  (click for map)

  • From the West: Travel east on Duke Street and turn right onto S. Quaker Lane.  Then take the first left onto Colvin Street.  You will see the site on your right.
  • From the East: Travel west on Duke Street and turn left onto S. Quaker Lane. Then take the first left onto Colvin Street. You will see the site on your right.
  • From the North: Take Braddock Road, King Street or Seminary/Janneys Lane to N. Quaker Lane. Travel south on N. Quaker Lane to Duke Street; turn left. Travel east on Duke Street to S. Quaker Lane (an immediate right off of Duke St); turn right. Then take the first left onto Colvin Street.  You will see the site on your right.

Hours: Monday and Saturdays ONLY - 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: CLOSED
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED

Center Information

Operating Procedures

In order to protect staff and members of the public, the HHW Center is following the below procedures:

  • When arriving at the center, residents should enter the vehicle queue and wait until the vehicle ahead has departed, or staff members have instructed them to proceed, before entering the site. Be mindful of traffic cones, barricades, signage, and gates that may be used to aid in traffic flow.
  • To ensure the safety of participants and staff, please remain in your vehicle while in the queue and drive through when instructed. Once the vehicle is positioned and parked for unloading, you may exit the vehicle and staff will provide a utility cart for materials to be placed. Please notify and identify for staff any materials that are not in their original containers. To prevent inadvertent spillage/breakage and reduce the interaction of vehicles and pedestrians please do not ‘walk-in’ materials from outside the fenced area if you drove to the HHW Center. 

    *‘Walk-ins’ are limited to participants who did not drive to the HHW Center, i.e. walked, biked, or took public transportation. Please wait in queue, be aware of vehicle traffic at all times when attempting to enter/exit the HHW Center and follow instructions from staff.
  • The HHW Center is for Alexandria residents only. Residents must confirm residency by showing a government ID (e.g., a driver’s license) or a utility bill to staff.  

Eligible Participants

The City of Alexandria provides weekly household hazardous waste and electronics recycling collection for City residents ONLY (i.e. those living in the following zip codes: 22301, 22302, 22304, 22305, 22311, 22312, and 22314). Proof of residency is required.

 

 

Materials Preparation

Household Hazardous Waste 

  • Please leave all materials in their originally labeled containers.
  • Containers should be sealed and properly packaged for transportation.
  • Do not mix chemical substances – even similar products from different manufacturers.

Electronics 

  • Delete all information from computer hard-drives

    Disclaimer: The City of Alexandria is not responsible for and does not erase computer hard drives or memory.
    Read an article on preparing a computer for donation. 
       

Acceptable Household Hazardous Waste Items

  •  Antifreeze
  • Battery Acid
  • Gasoline
  • Motor oil
  • Auto Cleaning Products
  • Car Batteries
  • Fluorescent Light Bulbs 
  • Oil-based Paints*
  • Lacquers
  • Spray can Paint
  • Thinners
                               
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Household Cleaning Products
  • Flammable Waxes & Abrasives
  • Driveway Sealer
  • Household Batteries**
  • Drain Cleaner
  • Flammable Caulks & Adhesives
  • Varnishes
  • Mineral Spirits
  • Mercury thermostats & thermometers
                                               
  •  Lawn Care Products
  • Garden Products
  • Herbicides
  • Pesticides
  • Ant Bait or Traps
  • Rodent Control Products
  • Insect Spray Cans
  • Pet Supplies
  • Photographic Chemicals
                                 

* Latex (water-based) paint is not considered hazardous material.  Dried out cans of latex paint can be disposed of in the regular trash.
** Household,  alkaline batteries (AA, AAA) can be thrown away in the regular trash.

Unacceptable Hazardous Waste Items

  • Explosives
  • Biological waste
  • Unknown substances
  • Helium Tanks 
  • Ammunition
  • Radioactive materials
  • Unlabeled substances
  • Propane, oxygen or acetylene Tanks
    • The City encourages residents to take back propane tanks to retailer. Tanks dropped off at the City's Household Hazardous Waste Center cannot be larger than 20 lbs (size of common barbecue-style tanks). Larger tanks must be returned to a local supplier.

Electronics - Acceptable Items

                   
  • Calculators
  • CD-ROM / DVD Drives
  • Memory & Circuit Boards
  • PC’s / Laptops / Notebooks
  • Monitors (LCD, Plasma & CRT)
  • All Computer Peripherals:
  • Keyboards, Mice, Cables, External Drives
  • Fax Machines & Modems
  • All Rechargeable & Button Batteries
  • Desktop printers (laser & ink jet) their cartridges
  • Desktop scanners & copiers
  • LED bulbs
                                                              
           
  • Cell Phones, Blackberries & PDA’s
  • Stereos and speakers
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
  • Video & Audio Equipment
  • Wires/Cables/Extension Cords
  • Televisions
  • CRT's (Cathode Ray Tubes)
  • LCD's
  • Plasma & Rear Projection
  • Storage Media* and their cases: (DVD’s, CD’s, ZIP, Floppy Disks, Etc.)
  • Digital Cameras
                                                                      

 Notes:  Alkaline batteries can be disposed of as trash in curbside collection
          * Dispose of VHS and cassette tapes with the regular trash 

Acceptable Appliances include:  

  • Refrigerators
  • Freezers
  • Air Conditioning Units
  • Dehumidifiers
  • Any items containing refrigerant

These items contain either chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants or hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants depending on their date of manufacture. Information about the dangers of CFC’s is available on the EPA website.

These items are not acceptable as regular trash nor can they be disposed of at the Covanta Energy Facility on Eisenhower Ave.  Disposal options for these items include:

  1. Have your contractor or delivery service exchange your old appliance at time of delivery.
  2. Call the Resource Recovery Division at 703.746.4410 to arrange for a special appliance pickup   
    Note: a $20.00 service fee may apply for large appliances 
  3. Residents may deliver their appliance at no cost to the HHW & Electronics Collection Center located at 3224 Colvin St.  

Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL’s) and Mercury – Use, Breakage Cleanup & Disposal

Use: Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are lighting more homes than ever before, and EPA is encouraging Americans to use and recycle them safely. Carefully recycling CFLs prevents the release of mercury into the environment and allows for the reuse of glass, metals and other materials that make up fluorescent lights. * Please read this flyer about the use and safe disposal of CFLs.

Breakage Clean Up: Fluorescent light bulbs and some older thermostats and thermometers contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within glass tubing. Learn more about EPA Clean Up Recommendations for broken fluorescent light bulbs and other mercury containing items. If you experience a mercury spill, please call 911. 

Disposal: Unbroken fluorescent bulbs or properly sealed broken bulbs can be taken to the City's Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Center.   

Hazardous Waste and Electronic Disposal / Recycling Information for Businesses

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators

Business may NOT use the City's HHW collection program to dispose of any hazardous waste. All businesses that produce hazardous wastes (including conditionally exempt small quantity generators, CESQG) should contact a licensed and permitted hazardous waste disposal company to properly document and dispose of their hazardous wastes. A partial list of companies is provided below for your convenience.  Please contact the Resource Recovery Division main telephone number: 703-746-4410 for additional information.

The City does not endorse any of the businesses below, please check certifications before selecting a vendor.  

  • Asbestos Disposal Companies:
    • Environmental Waste Specialists, Inc., 703-502-0100, 14100 Sullyfield Circle, Suite 400, Chantilly, VA 20151
    • First Piedmont Corporation, 1-434-432-0211, P.O. Box 1069, Chatham, VA 24531
  • Hazardous Waste Disposal Companies
    • Care Environmental Corp., 1-973-299-0774, 100 US Highway 46, Bldg. A, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046
    • Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc., 1-800-638-4440, 1104 West Roslyn Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834
    • Clean Venture, Inc., 1-410-368-9170, 2931 Whittington Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230
    • Eco-Flo, 1-301-498-4550, 8520 Corridor Road, Suite M, Savage, MD 20763
    • Environmental Management Services, Inc., 1-301-309-0475, 1688 East Gude Drive, Suite 301, Rockville, MD 20850
    • Potomac Environmental, Inc., 1-540-659-1894, P.O. Box 1836, Stafford, VA 22555
    • Remac America, Inc., 1-800-600-9608, 10860 Spring Knoll Drive, Potomac Industrial Park, Potomac, MD 20854
  • Medical/Infectious Waste Disposal Service Companies
    • Clean Venture, Inc., 1-410-368-9170,2931 Whittington Avenue , Baltimore, MD 21230
    • Environmental Management Services, Inc., 1-301-309-0475, 1688 East Gude Drive, Suite 301, Rockville, MD 20850
    • SteriCycle, 1-800-234-7822, 5901 Chemical Road, Baltimore, MD 21226
  • Petroleum Contaminated Soil or Products Disposal Companies
    • First Piedmont Corporation, 703-432-0211, P.O. Box 1069, Chatman, VA 24531
  • Specific Collection Service Companies
    • Davis Industries, Inc., (Junk car removal), 703-550-7402, 9920 Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA 22079
    • U.S. Filter, (Waste oil & anti-freeze collection), 1-410-633-0606, 6305 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
    • Mid-States Oil, (Waste oil collection), 1-410-354-9500, 3520 Fairfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21226
    • Valley Proteins, (Rendering of animal waste & cooking oil), 1-410-355-4800, 1515 Open Street, Baltimore, MD 21226
    • U.S. Filter, (Waste oil & anti-freeze collection), 1-888-749-8344, 5800 Farrington Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304
    • Willow Spring Wrecker Service, (Junk car removal), 703-631-9339, 12815 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030

Electronics Recycling Information 

KnowToxics:  www.knowtoxics.com and click on private recycling services.

Local Electronics Recyclers:  Call for pricing

  • Computer CORE:  3846 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302   PH: 703-931-7346 
  • Securis: 14801 Willard Rd, Ste 800, Chantilly, VA  20151    703-436-1967
  • eAssett Solutions: 134 W Jefferson ST, Falls Church, VA  22046   703-534-5865
  • Shred Station Express:  5604 General Washington Dr, Alexandria, VA  22312   703-347-4638

Less Toxic and Reuse Opportunities

Residents and businesses can reduce the need to use the household hazardous waste site by using less toxic products and donating reusable electronics to charities.

  Hazardous Product                           Hazardous Component           Less Toxic Option                  Proper Disposal        
Stains/Finishes        Glycols, ethers, ketones, minerals spirits, toluene, xylene, other volatile organic compounds  Water-based finishes   Store in screw top container. Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Oil-Based Paints         Alcohol, acetone, esters, ketones, petroleum distillates, other volatile compounds   Use water-based paints* Share leftovers with friends or neighbors; save for household hazardous waste collection.
Used Oil        
 
Hydrocarbon, heavy metals     None; use recycled oil Can be recycled. Contact oil collection center or service station; save for household hazardous waste collection.
Bleach Cleaners             Lye, hydrogen peroxide, sodium or calcium hypocholorite Baking soda or borax In well-ventilated area, use up as intended. Never mix with ammonia.
Ammonia-Based Cleaners           Ammonia, ethanol   White vinegar, lemon juice In well-ventilated area, use up as intended. Never mix with chlorine bleach.
Drain Opener           
 
Lye, sodium hypochlorite Prevent blockage with biological clog preventers; remove clogs with plunger or plumber's "snake"  Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Oven Cleaner          Lye, ammonia   Catch drips with foil or cookie sheets; for cleaning use baking soda, water, scouring pad In well-ventilated area, use up as intended. Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Pesticides            Almost all pesticides are hazardous. Call US EPA for a list of banned pesticides  Remove food source, use traps and baits, or biological controls Save for household hazardous waste collection.
Paint Thinners            Alcohol, acetone, esters, ketones, petroleum distillates, other volatile organic compounds  Water in water based paints Store in screw top container, allow paint solids to settle to bottom & pour off clear thinner to use again. Save remainder for household hazardous waste collection.
*Water-based, Latex paints             Not considered hazardous    Share leftovers with friends or neighbors; add kitty litter or saw dust to left over and allow the paint can to dry out before throwing in the trash. Can be brought to household hazardous waste collection.
       

 

Additional Resources

  • Household Hazardous Waste Brochure - English
  • Household Hazardous Waste Brochure - Spanish
  • Household Hazardous Waste Brochure - Amharic
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  
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