Containers, and their contents, degrade over time. Labels get lost, and the chance of children or pets finding the hazardous waste increases when it is stored for long periods of time. However, storage may be the safest temporary option for now if there is not a safe and organized system in your community to handle hazardous household waste. There are a number of problems that can occur when we discard hazardous household waste using common disposal methods. Recommendations for proper disposal will depend upon both the particular type of waste and the waste disposal options available in your community.
Local ordinances vary.
Landfills may or may not accept certain hazardous household products. They also may vary on how they want the product to arrive at the landfill. Another landfill may want paint handled a different way. In addition, waste water treatment plants may not allow certain liquids to be poured down the drain. If you have any questions, call your landfill, local waste water treatment company, local waste management office or the Extension Home Economics Agent at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service center in your countv.