Last Updated on September 25, 2025
Household hazardous waste is more common than you think – paint, batteries, meds, and cleaners all need special disposal. Peek inside the cabinets, garage, or bathroom and you’ll find everyday products we assume are harmless, but many are hazardous items that can’t go in regular trash or down the drain.
When handled the wrong way, these products can harm human health, contaminate water and soil, and degrade air quality. This guide explains which household items are considered hazardous, why they’re risky, and exactly how to dispose of them safely (and where to take them).
what counts as household hazardous waste?
When I think about hazardous waste I usually picture large metal barrels with glowing green goo oozing out of them straight from Scooby Doo, but the truth is it’s a lot more boring than that. In fact there’s a lot of common household items lurking in our cabinets that might surprise you!
- Paints (including even water‑based/latex)
- Motor oil, automotive fluids (antifreeze, brake fluid)
- Batteries (single use, rechargeable, lithium‑ion)
- Drain cleaners, oven cleaners, ammonia, bleach
- Glues, adhesives, solvents, strippers
- Old or expired medications, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides
- Aerosol cans, nail polish remover, certain cleaners
RELATED: My Home Restoration: Sustainable Interior Design Choices I Recommend
why these items pose real risk:
So what happens if we don’t dispose of these things in the right way? Many of these products can contain chemicals that are flammable, corrosive, toxic, or reactive, meaning they pose risks if stored incorrectly, mixed, or disposed of in ways that allow them to escape into the environment.
- Water contamination: If chemicals leach through landfills or make their way into storm drains or septic systems, they can infiltrate groundwater or nearby streams and rivers.
- Soil contamination: Toxic compounds degrade soil health, harming plants, earthworms, and the microbial life that maintains ecosystem balance.
- Air pollution: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in solvents, aerosol propellants, or paints can evaporate into the air, contributing to indoor air quality issues and outdoor smog or ozone problems.
- Health impacts: Direct exposure (skin contact, inhalation) can cause burns, poisoning, respiratory problems, or longer‑term chronic health effects. Vulnerable populations (children, elderly, people with respiratory issues) are particularly at risk.
Because of those risks, many jurisdictions prohibit throwing these items in trash bins or pouring them down drains. So what do you do instead?
how to dispose of toxic household waste safely and item-by-item guide:
paint (latex & oil-based)
Even latex (water-based) paint contains compounds that can harm waterways and air if it’s rinsed down a drain or left to evaporate. Oil-based paint is always hazardous. Do not pour paint down sinks or toss wet cans.
Where it goes: a local paint take-back partner (call your paint store) or your community’s hazardous waste disposal site. Many Sherwin-Williams stores offer this service. Small amounts of latex may be air-dried and then landfilled only if local rules allow.
Recyclable? Often. Latex can be reblended; oil-based requires specialized handling.
RELATED: 6 Ecofriendly Paint Brands For Every Home Project
motor oil & automotive fluids (antifreeze, brake fluid)
Used oil and automotive fluids are toxic and persistent; even small spills can contaminate large volumes of water.
Where it goes: auto shops, community disposal sites, or hauler-run drop-offs. Many services also accept antifreeze.
Recyclable? Yes for used motor oil (re-refined into new oil) and often for antifreeze. Brake fluid typically needs special treatment.
batteries (alkaline, rechargeable, lithium-ion, button cells)
Batteries can leach heavy metals or spark fires (especially lithium-ion). While batteries are recyclable never EVER put batteries in your curbside recycling bin.
Where it goes: retail drop-off programs or local disposal sites like Staples and Best Buy. Never place lithium-ion or button cells in household trash. Some localities allow alkaline in the trash, but drop-off is safest.
Recyclable? Frequently from special programs. Metals and components are recoverable, especially from rechargeables and lithium-ion.
medications (rx & otc)
Flushed or trashed medications can enter waterways and pose poisoning risks at home.
Where it goes: pharmacy or law-enforcement take-back programs and events; many locations have secure drop boxes. Avoid flushing unless local or FDA guidance explicitly directs it.
Recyclable? No. Medications are handled via secure destruction.
corrosive cleaners (drain/oven cleaners, ammonia, bleach)
These products are highly corrosive and reactive; mixing them can release dangerous gases and cause burns.
Where it goes: keep sealed in original containers and take to your local hazardous waste disposal site. Do not mix leftover products.
Recyclable? Generally no. They are typically neutralized or otherwise treated.
solvents, paint thinners, adhesives, strippers
These products are flammable and high in VOCs, posing indoor air and fire risks.
Where it goes: bring sealed, original containers to a hazardous waste disposal site; store away from heat or ignition sources.
Recyclable? Sometimes. Many solvents can be distilled and reused; some thinners are recoverable.
pesticides, herbicides, insecticides
These chemicals are toxic to aquatic life, pollinators, pets, and people even at low doses.
Where it goes: follow the label and take to a certified community hazardous waste disposal site.
Recyclable? No. They are generally treated or neutralized under strict controls.
aerosol cans
This one is a bit tricky as it also depends on what’s inside the can.
Where it goes: If a can is completely empty and your local recycling program accepts it, it is often recyclable with metals. If it is not empty, or it contained hazardous products (for example, pesticide or oil-based paint), treat it as hazardous waste and take it to a disposal site. Never puncture aerosol cans yourself.
Recyclable? Often yes when fully empty and accepted by the local program; otherwise handle via hazardous collection.
fluorescent bulbs & tubes (including cfls)
These contain small amounts of mercury that must be captured.
Where it goes: retailer lamp-recycling programs, mail-back kits, or your local hazardous waste disposal site. Handle carefully to avoid breakage.
Recyclable? Yes. Mercury is captured and glass and metal are recovered.
RELATED: Can You Recycle Lightbulbs?
nail-polish remover (acetone) & specialty solvents
These are flammable solvents that off-gas and affect indoor air quality.
Where it goes: take sealed containers to a hazardous waste disposal site; do not allow products to evaporate as a “disposal” method.
Recyclable? Sometimes via solvent recovery; otherwise treated.
how to find drop-off sites and services near you
Start with your city or county’s household hazardous waste webpage for permanent facilities or event calendars.
Then check your hauler’s website (for example, wm.com) for nearby drop-off locations, any at-your-door collection availability, and recycle-by-mail options for specific items. For targeted streams such as paint, batteries, and lamps, call retailers to confirm participation before visiting.
toxic household items: quick disposal cheat sheet
- keep it labeled: leave products in original containers; never mix chemicals.
- never in the bin: oil-based paint, pesticides, non-empty aerosols, lithium-ion & button-cell batteries.
- sometimes okay (check local rules): dried latex paint and empty aerosol cans may be accepted in curbside programs.
- where it goes:
- medications – pharmacy or police take-back boxes (don’t flush unless directed).
- batteries – retailer drop-off or your local hazardous waste site.
- paint/solvents/auto fluids/corrosives – household hazardous waste collection sites or community events.
- safe transport: seal tightly, keep upright, separate incompatibles, and carry in the trunk (not the cabin).
When in doubt, don’t throw it out – instead check your city or county website for household hazardous waste drop-offs or collection days, and call ahead to retailers for take-back programs. A few extra steps keep toxic chemicals out of our homes, waterways, and air and that protects everyone.
The post Household Hazardous Waste: What Not to Trash & How to Dispose of it Properly appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Household Hazardous Waste: What Not to Trash & How to Dispose of it Properly
Green Living
Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director of the Ocean River Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ORI works with residential lawn owners to heal damaged ecosystems by restoring coastal areas to lessen the destructive impacts of climate change. The benefits of a natural lawn reach far beyond reduced local water pollution, eliminating chemicals that can contribute to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cellular diseases. Natural lawns are also better for local pollinators and store much more carbon than heavily fertilized lawns. If you considered removing your lawn to play a part in the battle against climate change, this interview may change your mind — a healthy lawn is a powerful carbon sink.
The Ocean River Institute is recruiting Massachusetts communities, town by town, to take a pledge to follow natural lawn practices in the Healthy Soils for Climate Restoration Challenge. You don’t need to live in Massachusetts to participate and learn about the alternatives to the traditional, chemical-intensive lawn practices that use Roundup, a source of glyphosates that kills soil-dwelling fungi and local pollinators, and fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. You can learn more about the Ocean River Institute at www.oceanriver.org.
Rob has contributed many articles about climate change and the history of environmental change since this interview, including:
- Finding a Northwest Passage to the Sea
- Turning the Tide—How Land and Water Shape Our Climate Future
- Learning from Captain Scoresby’s Ten-gallon Fir-Cask
- Earth Savvy?
- Let the Ground Keep Falling Rainwater
- The Sultans of Swag Versus Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now
- Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
- Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 30, 2022.
The post Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-the-ocean-river-institutes-natural-lawn-challenge-for-climate-action/
Choosing your perfect gown can be one of the most exciting decisions for your special day, but for the eco fashionista, it can be a challenge to find a dress that fits your values and style — but these brands have exceptional sustainable wedding dresses you’ll swoon over!
Using earth-minded materials like hemp, cruelty-free peace silk, deadstock recycled fabrics and vintage lace, and producing consciously, either in small batches or handcrafting each individual piece made-to-order, the brands below meet high standards for transparency, ecological sustainability, and fair labor.
[For more sustainable wedding dresses, check out this guide to secondhand wedding dress sites!]
Note that the guide contains affiliate links. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Dreamy dress brand Christy Dawn does not disappoint with their romantic bridal collection! Each piece is more swoon-worthy than the next.
Their three sustainable bridal gowns are made from regenerative silk charmeuse —sourced through BOMBYX, an innovative silk producer using best practices — and colored in a beautiful pearl silk with non-toxic dyes. Each dress is ethically cut and sewn by makers in Los Angeles earning living wages, as with the rest of Christy Dawn’s collections.
The Britta Dress and Fitzgerald Dress are 1920s inspired while the Athena Dress is a more modern (but equally romantic) option. All of these dresses are made-to-order with an estimated timeline of 4 weeks.
Conscious Qualities: Regenerative silk and organic non-toxic dyes, ethically made-to-order in Los Angeles
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000
Size Range: XS – XL
2. Pure Magnolia
Blending the traditional with the modern, Pure Magnolia designs classic-inspired sustainable wedding dresses with contemporary touches. And each dress is made in their Canadian studio by seamstresses earning fair wages from eco-fabrics, such as organic cotton and hemp silk.
The brand sources recycled fabrics whenever possible as well, and recycles their scrap fabric through FABCYCLE.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, locally and fairly made, recycles scrap fabrics
Price Range: $845 – $3,300 CAD
Size Range: 0 – 28
3. Lost in Paris
Lost in Paris crafts each of their creatively designed bohemian-inspired gowns ethically in their Sydney, Australia studio. Unconventional yet undeniably striking, Lost in Paris’ dresses are made from vintage lace and cotton.
Investing in a dress from Lost in Paris is seamless — the brand offers at-home sample try-ons, offers train and sleeve adjustments on several styles, ships their dresses worldwide for free, and even accepts returns. Oh, and, if one of their ready-made sizes doesn’t work for you, you can get a dress designed to your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses vintage lace, locally made
Price Range: $950 – $3900 AUD
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing options
For More Slow Fashion Content:
4. Wear Your Love
Wear Your Love creates feminine, effortless dresses in their Northern California studio that are — in contrast to the majority of wedding dresses on the market — actually comfortable! The brand’s free-spirited designs are made with soft, earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton and each dress is made to order for each bride to their exact measurements.
There are also customizations available for each eco-friendly wedding dress such as train or no train, skirt or sleeve linings, back coverage, skirt style, and more.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model, locally and transparently made
Price Range: $680 – $1,700
Size Range: N/A; dresses are made to your measurements
5. Larimeloom
Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Larimeloom crafts exceptional custom-made dresses by hand in their atelier. The brand creates comfortable minimalist dresses from durable natural fabrics and colors them with natural or non-toxic dyes.
Larimeloom has also implemented zero waste design techniques, cutting their patterns strategically in order to minimize fabric waste.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, zero-waste designs, natural fabrics and dyes
Price Range: 650€ – 2,650€
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Sister Organics
Sourcing quality earth-friendly natural fabrics like organic hemp and cotton, Sister Organics creates classic, eco-friendly wedding dresses for UK-based brides.
Each dress is made to order in England, so you can select a pre-defined size, customize the length of a size, or get an entirely different dress made for your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model
Price Range: £125 – £390
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing
7. Indiebride London
Indiebride’s vintage-inspired sustainable wedding dresses are delicate and romantic yet free-spirited, offering a unique collection for the bride that wants to skip the conventional wedding gown and choose a piece that fits their individual style.
The brand’s conscious wedding dresses are handmade in London using majority natural fibers and can be altered or customized to your specifications.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses many natural fabrics, locally made
Price Range: £1,200 – £1,700
Size Range: 8 – 16 (UK sizes)
More Resources For Your Eco Wedding:
10 Secondhand Wedding Dress Sites for the Eco Bride
7 Ethical Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings
17 Brands with Conscious Dresses (great options for bridesmaid dresses in here!)
The post 7 Best Sustainable Wedding Dresses for Your Special Day appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
Get organized in style with the beautiful sustainable dressers, wardrobes, and armoires from these furniture companies using responsibly-sourced FSC-Certified wood or upcycled wood.
Note that this guide includes affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to make a purchase through these links.
What Makes A Dresser Sustainable?
As with anything in sustainability, there are various approaches that can make something “sustainable”.
Secondhand
With over 12 million tons (or 24 billion pounds) of furniture getting wasted each year in the United States alone, it’s definitely a great idea to look used when possible!
Secondhand not only helps divert furniture from the landfill, but reduces the need to extract new materials, whether that’s metal, wood, cotton, or increasingly, petroleum for synthetic fabrics and plastic.
Here’s where to look for secondhand dressers:
- Garage sales and estate sales (check EstateSales.net!)
- Facebook Marketplace
- OfferUp
- AptDeco
Responsibly Sourced Wood
Most storage furniture, like dressers, are made from wood (or engineered wood). While wood is a natural material, deforestation is a significant driver of climate change.
So, look for domestic or certified sustainably-sourced wood when purchasing wooden furniture. The largest most common certification is FSC, which stands for Forest Stewardship Council.
Even better is if you can find furniture made from reclaimed wood! This is basically upcycled wood that is being repurposed. This reclaimed wood can come from old barns, ships, factories, warehouses, or even wine barrels.
Non-Toxic Finishes
Unfortunately, many wood finishes contain harmful petroleum- and chemical-based solvents which can emit VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. While the toxicity is most severe during application and does reduce with time, the chemicals can build up in your home, so you may feel most comfortable minimizing risk of VOCs.
Why does this matter? Well, the EPA reports that indoor air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air — largely due to what we bring into our homes, from furniture to household cleaners.
Look for low-VOC finishes, water-based finishes, or natural oil finishes like linseed oil.
Where to Find Sustainably Made Dressers
I’ve done the grunt work for you and curated furniture brands with sustainable dressers, armoires, and wardrobes below!
1. Urban Natural
Highlights: Sustainably-Sourced Woods,
Price Range: $1,245 – $9,000+
For a one-stop shop for sustainable storage furniture, look no further than Urban Natural. The retailer has a stunning selection of timeless sustainable dressers (including non-toxic dressers for nurseries) made with responsibly sourced wood and several with non-toxic finishes too.
Urban Natural’s workshop partners use materials like solid oak, cherry, maple, and walnut — and many of the brands prioritize local sourcing as well.
2. Avocado
Highlights: Reclaimed or FSC-Certified Wood, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, Zero VOC Finish
Price Range: $1,939 – $3,999
Avocado’s sustainable dressers are made in Los Angeles in their own FSC-certified woodshop. Beautifully designed with a timeless mid-century modern or Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, Avocado’s dressers are also built to last. Each dresser is made with either responsibly sourced FSC-Certified wood or reclaimed wood. Most of the company’s non-toxic bedroom furniture is also finished with a non-toxic zero-VOC finish to you can sleep easy.
3. Thuma
Highlights: Upcycled Solid Wood, GREENGUARD Gold Certified, Modular
Price Range: $1,165 – $3,495
Designed for maximum functionality and versatility, Thuma’s sustainable dressers give you endless options. Configure a couple drawers for a nightstand and add on more drawers vertically or horizontally for a full dresser that can fit any space.
The modular setup may be especially useful for families with evolving needs — you can add on more drawers if your needs grow or separate a large dresser into two smaller ones.
4. Medley
Highlights: Non-Toxic, USA Made
Price Range: $4,136
Medley’s sustainable dressers are handmade to order in California. The wide dresser pictured here comes in maple or walnut sourced domestically in the US.
The tops and sides are solid hardwood and FSC-certified, low-VOC CARB 2 compliant hardwood plywood is used in the rest of the dresser. The piece is finished with non-toxic natural beeswax.
5. MasayaCo
Highlights: FSC-Certified Reforested Wood, 1.2 Million Trees Planted
Price Range: $2,295 – $2,395
MasayaCo is committed to responsible sourcing for all of their sustainable storage furniture. Each FSC-Certified piece is made to order by skilled artisans in Nicaragua from 100% solid teak wood that comes from their own reforestation projects. Even more impressive, the company leaves 40% of these projects completely untouched to thrive on its own.
Their stunning credenzas could easily be used as dressers, too.
6. West Elm Sustainably Sourced Collection
Highlights: Non-Toxic and Responsibly-Sourced Options
Price Range: $879 – $2499
West Elm is a large retailer with options for more eco-friendly dressers. Among their selection, you can curate by filters such as GREENGUARD Gold Certified, crafted in Fair Trade Certified facilities, made from responsibly-sourced wood, and/or Contract Grade (i.e. high quality + durable).
7. Crate & Barrel FSC-Certified (Honorable Mention)
Price Range: $899 – $2,699
While Crate & Barrel does not have as many sustainability efforts as other large retailers like West Elm, the company has a vast selection of FSC-certified wood storage furniture, including dressers, chests, and full wardrobes or armoires.
You’ll find an array of woods and finishes as well, from weathered rustic natural wood to dark espresso-finished wood.
More Guides Like This:
21 Best Places to Find Sustainable Furniture
8 Gorgeous Sustainable Tables to Gather Around
Best Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Sofas to Relax In
The post 7 Sustainable Dressers and Armoires to Store it All Away in Style (2026) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
7 Sustainable Dressers and Armoires to Store it All Away in Style (2026)
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