DPW: Household Hazardous Waste/E-Cycling/Document Shredding

The Department of Public Works makes it easy for residents to dispose properly of household hazardous waste (HHW) and unwanted electronic equipment (e-waste). Throwing them into the trash, pouring them down the drain, or getting rid of them in other improper ways can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health, as well as to the health of your family pets and DPW workers. DPW operates a weekly household hazardous waste (HHW) /e-cycling drop-off and free personal document shredding site at the Fort Totten Trash Transfer Station at 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE. Starting October 3, Saturday Drop Offs & Shredding at Ft. Totten Transfer Station ONLY. It is open on Saturdays, except holidays, 8 am to 3 pm. This weekly drop-off site replaces the semi-annual HHW/e-cycling collection events. Residents also can bring documents to be shredded.

The District is the first jurisdiction in the region to offer free weekly document shredding for residents, thus relieving them of either purchasing their own shredder (and running the risk that young children might harm themselves if they try to play with it), or waiting for an infrequently offered community-based shredding event.

What is household hazardous waste? HHW applies to any leftover household products that are poisonous and/or can:

Burn or cause a fire.
Eat away materials.
Destroy living tissue on contact.
Cause an explosion or release poisonous fumes when exposed to air,
water or other chemicals.
Damage or destroy cells and chromosomal material.

E-cycling unwanted computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers and fax machines prevents releasing dangerous substances, such as lead and mercury into the environment. DPW is ready to accept residents’ old electronics at either transfer station or call 311, the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center, for a bulk collection appointment. In addition to providing HHW/e-cycling and document shredding on Saturdays, the transfer station provides residents with compost between March and October and they will accept a small number of bulk items: Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station at 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE, weekdays from 1 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm, and is closed on holidays.

HHW is taken to a US Environmental Protection Agency-approved facility for processing, recycling or disposal. E-waste is broken down into its component parts; precious/toxic metals are extracted, and then the various materials are recycled or disposed of safely.

Acceptable household hazardous waste and
e-cycling items include:

Acids
Aerosols
Antifreeze
Asbestos tile
Batteries
Cleaning chemicals
Drain openers
Fluorescent light bulbs
Furniture stripper
Stains
Varnish
Fertilizer
Lighter fluid
Mercury thermometers and mercury containing devices
Moth balls
Motor oil
Paint
Pesticides and
Poisons
Roofing tar
Solvents/thinners
Transmission fluids
Windshield wiper and
Brake fluids
Wood preservatives

Electronics Recycling Acceptable Items:

Audio/visual equipment
Audio cassettes
Camcorders
CD Rom drives CDs/DVDs
Cell Phones
Computers and monitors
Connectors / Cords / Wire
Copy machines
Fax machines
Floppy drives Hard drives
Memory chips
Network / Video / Sound cards
Pagers
Power supplies
Printers
Scrap computer plastic Scrap computer metal
Tape drives
TVs
VCRs
VCR tapes
Video games & Software

Unacceptable household hazardous waste and e-cycling items include:

Air conditioners (Call 311 for a bulk trash collection appointment.)
Ammunition (Take to the closest police station.)
Explosives (Take to the closest police station.)
Latex paint (Dry out and place in the trash.)
Medicine (Place the medicine in the trash. The empty bottle can be placed in your recycling container after removing the identification label from the bottle.)
Microwave ovens (Call 311 for a bulk trash collection appointment.)
Tires (Up to four tires may be taken to the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station, weekdays from 1 pm to 5 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 3 pm.)
Wooden TV cabinets or consoles (Call 311 for a bulk trash collection appointment.)

How You Can Help

Buy only what you need and use all of what you buy.
Purchase non-hazardous products, such as biodegradable bathroom cleaners, when available.
Keep HHW products in their original packaging and make sure the containers cannot leak or tip over as you take them from your home to a disposal site.
Many electronic products can be reused, restored, or recycled.
Latex paint is NOT HAZARDOUS. If you have unused latex paint, remove the lid and let it dry out. Then place the can in the trash. You can speed up the drying process by adding some kitty litter to the paint.