General FAQ

The Nashua Region Solid Waste Management District (NRSWMD) spends roughly $95 per household on disposal costs alone for each HHW event. The District is funded through annual dues from its 11 member communities and grant money from the NH Dept. of Environmental Services. However, the safe disposal of HHW is expensive, these sources do not cover all of the program costs, and grant funding to subsidize the program is never guaranteed. We ask participants to help offset the program costs with a $20 user fee and we sincerely appreciate your support and participation.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) comes from everyday products used in the home, yard, or garden. When you see the words "caution," "poison," "warning," or "danger" on a product label, you are dealing with a potentially hazardous material that cannot be disposed of as regular waste. Oil-based paints, solvents, auto products, antifreeze, pesticides, gas, and household cleaners are just a few examples.  

You do not need to bring empty bottles/cans/containers. If the container is truly empty, it is not considered hazardous waste. You can dispose of it with regular household trash. Propane tanks should not be placed in household trash because they are still pressurized and can be potentially dangerous if not disposed of properly.

Read our handy guide: What makes household hazardous waste Hazardous?

Household Hazardous Waste needs to be handled separately from regular waste because it can harm human health or the environment if not managed properly. Dumping hazardous waste (including down the toilet, drain, or storm sewer) can damage sewer treatment plants or private septic systems. Waste may flow directly into streams and ponds, which can contaminate drinking water. Hazardous waste put into the solid waste stream with regular trash can ignite and explode, damaging collection trucks and harming solid waste employees.

State and federal laws prohibit the disposal of hazardous waste in municipal landfills and regulate the transport of hazardous wastes when they occur in large quantities or are industrially produced.

It can be very expensive to safely dispose of HHW, so few municipalities have the facilities, training, or funding to host their own collections or to process materials on site. By working together through the District, municipalities are better able to afford to offer collection events.

The fee of $20 pays for up to 10 gallons (liquids like oil-based paint or gasoline) or 20 pounds (solids like bagged fertilizer or pool chemicals). There are additional fees for amounts above 10 gallons and/or over 20 pounds of hazardous waste.

Containers larger than 5 gallons, such as 55-gallon drums, require special handling and need to be pre-registered by calling (603) 417-6570.

Keep the waste in original containers with original labels, if possible. Make sure that caps and lids are secure, and place any items at risk of spilling in an upright plastic bin or storage tote. Since many chemicals have noxious odors, keep them in the trunk or rear of the vehicle. Do not store materials in a very hot or very cold vehicle or in direct sunlight. Do not smoke at the event.

If you have a container larger than 5 gallons, such as a 55-gallon drum, these require special handling and need to be pre-registered by calling (603) 417-6570.ideal trunk

The short answer is maybe. Small quantity business generators are eligible to participate in the Nashua Region Household Hazardous Waste program. Please read the following carefully to determine if your business is eligible.

Is my business a Small Quantity Generator?

Your business is a small quantity generator (SQG) if it generates in each and every calendar month:

  • Less than 100 kilograms or 220 pounds of non-acute hazardous waste;
  • Less than 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of an acutely hazardous waste; or
  • Less than 100 kilograms or 220 pounds of any residue or contaminated soil, waste, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any acutely hazardous waste.

If you have questions about whether your business is a SQG, please contact NH Dept. of Environmental Services Small Quantity Generator Program. If your business qualifies as a small quantity generator, please read this fact sheet about participating in a household hazardous waste collection event. 

What will it cost to participate?

Businesses participating in the Household Hazardous Waste program will be charged directly by the hazardous waste vendor. Costs are based on the type and quantity of waste you are disposing of. The Nashua Regional Planning Commission does not set pricing for business participants.

How do I register to attend an event?

SQG business participants must pre-register at least 2 weeks prior to the event by contacting NRPC (603-417-6570). This will allow time for you to obtain the proper paperwork and information needed to participate.  If you arrive at a collection event without pre-registering you will not be able to participate.

Yes! We encourage carpooling. The fee is determined by the amount of waste, not the number of households. If you and your neighbor collectively bring less than 10 gallons or 20 pounds of waste and you carpool in one vehicle, you will only be charged $20. We survey all participants at events to capture the total number of households.

Consider buying fewer products with hazardous ingredients. When shopping for items such as household cleaners, toilet cleaners, laundry detergent, dish soap, dishwasher machine pods and gels, bug sprays and pest control, look for environmentally friendly products or search online for simple recipes to make your own.

We have compiled a list of some earth friendly alternatives here. 

The EPA has created the Safer Choice label to to help you find products made with ingredients that are safer for our families, pets, workplaces, and the environment. Learn more on the Safer Choice website.                                                                                                                                            

If you do not live in one of our 11 member communities (Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, Pelham, and Windham) you should check with your town to see if they offer a household hazardous waste collection event. If your town or region doesn't have a collection event,  feel free to reach out to us or NH Department of Environmental Services for assistance.

Because we love kids and pets, we ask that you please leave them at home. Hazardous wastes are not kid- and pet-friendly.

Accepted Items

glue, caulk, solvent-based cement and silicone
spray paint, oven cleaner, etc.

antifreeze is a universal waste and some transfer stations accept antifreeze from their residents. Please check the Universal Waste Guide to determine if you can recycle antifreeze at your local transfer station instead of bringing it to a HHW collection.

brake and transmission fluids, car wax. Read our guide on DIY Automotive Products for alternatives.

we do NOT accept automotive batteries. Rechargeable household batteries can be taken to many transfer stations and stores including Staples, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Batteries Plus. Read our Battery Disposal Guide to see how to dispose of different types of batteries.

As of July 1, 2025, it is illegal to put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Visit the NHDES lithium-ion batteries blog.

ammonia, bleach, all-purpose cleaners, metal polishes, oven cleaner, drain cleaners

Contact your local transfer station to determine if you can recycle bulbs there instead of bringing them to a HHW collection. Many local retailers also offer recycling. Read our Compact Fluorescent Light Disposal Guide here.

liquid only; NO wood or other materials covered in creosote 

We accept driveway sealers.

Fluorescent bulbs are universal waste and many transfer stations accept these items from their residents. Please see the Universal Waste Guide to determine if you can recycle them at your local transfer station. Many local businesses also take bulbs for recycling. Or, you may bring them to an HHW collection for a minimum $20 fee.

gasoline, kerosene, camping fuel, butane, lamp oil, used cooking oil
gasoline should be transported in containers designed for gasoline. We can return the containers to you if you ask.

NH law prohibits the use of lead sinkers and jigs with a total weight of one ounce or less in all fresh water. Common Loons and other waterbirds can die from lead poisoning after accidentally ingesting lead sinkers and jigs. Read here to determine if your fishing tackle contains lead.

thermostats, thermometers, switches.  Please check the Universal Waste Guide to determine if you can recycle mercury devices at your local transfer station instead of bringing them to a HHW collection.  Click here for instructions for cleaning up a small mercury spill.

Oil-based stains, lacquer, shellac, urethane, varnish, wood preservatives.  We do NOT accept latex/acrylic paint. 

fertilizer, weed killer, rodent killers. Read our Fertilizer & Pesticide Guide for environmentally sound alternatives.

photo fix, developer
We accept pool chemicals. Note that powders/solids will be measured by weight.
We can accept road flares but we can't accept marine flares. Marine flares are considered explosiv
paint thinner, acetone, brush cleaner, mineral spirits, strippers

Items We Don't Take

What do I do with it? A guide for items not accepted at HHW collections

Nashua residents can bring asbestos to the Four Hills Landfill.  All other residents should work with a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Find licensed contractors and learn more from the NH Department of Environmental Services Asbestos Management webpage.
Many municipalities accept auto batteries from their residents at their transfer stations or landfills. Auto batteries can also be recycled at a participating store.
Store-bought small helium tanks designed for families to fill balloons typically come with instructions showing you how to safely recycle them. Refer to the manufacturer.
Most carbon monoxide detectors do not contain radioactive material and can be recycled with other electronics.
Please contact your local transfer station or landfill about how to recycle TVs, computers, monitors, tablets and other electronics. Also, non-profit organizations hold occasional collections and for-profit businesses (such as Aurum Recovery) have drop-off locations.
Empty bottles, cans, and containers can go in the trash. Pressurized tanks such as propane tanks should be brought to a recycler.
Call 911 immediately if you realize that you have explosive chemicals in your home. Do not attempt to move or transport them.  They can blow up simply from being handled.
Return to Impact Fire, 26 Hampshire Drive, Hudson, NH 03051, M-F 8am to 4pm. Phone: 603-293-7531.
Air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, etc. Check with your local transfer station or landfill as many of them will take Freon appliances, either for free or a small fee. And NHSaves hosts turn-in events around the state, seasonally.
Latex/acrylic paint is not accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Collections. It can be safely disposed of in household trash if it is completely dry. Read more about Latex/Acrylic Paint Disposal.
Marine flares are classified as an explosive. Contact your local police or fire department.
Do NOT flush medications!  Many pharmacies provide drop boxes to dispose of unwanted prescription medications. Search the Drug Enforcement Administration's list of locations. If you cannot use a drop box, place medications in your household trash following these guidelines by NHDES.
Many municipalities accept propane tanks from residents at their transfer stations or landfills. Check with your local municipality to see if there are any restrictions on the size of propane tanks that are accepted.
Consult the manufacturer.
Needles, syringes, finger sticks, lacets, epi-pens, etc. may be brought to St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua (172 Kinsley St, 603-882-3000) or to Southern NH Medical Center in Nashua (8 Prospect St, 603-577-2000). If you do not own an official sharps container or sharps clippers, place sharps in a puncture-proof liquid laundry detergent bottle or fabric softener bottle. Containers must be taped shut and marked "used sharps." Disposal Tips for Household Generated Sharps
Ionizing smoke detectors contain radioactive material. They can be returned to the manufacturer (Smoke Detector Manufacturer List) or mailed to a recycler (Curie Environmental or EZ On the Earth).
Universal waste is hazardous but so common that there are less expensive ways to dispose of it than through hazardous waste collection. Universal waste includes antifreeze, mercury, fluorescent bulbs, CRT monitors, and batteries. Check with your municipality to see if they accept these items before bringing them to an event.
As long as the oil is not mixed with anything else, you may be able to bring it to your local transfer station  - call your municipality to inquire or search here for a participating store.
Disposable vapes contain both batteries and nicotine so they fall under multiple federal regulations. This combination makes it difficult for waste companies to handle disposable vapes nation-wide.
Contact your local landfill or transfer station.