The DC Department of Public Works will hold its next monthly Household Hazardous Waste/E-cycling/Personal Document Shredding drop-off Saturday, July 6, 8 am to 3 pm, at the Ft. Totten Transfer Station*.  The monthly drop-off is held every first Saturday, except holidays, at Ft. Totten, between 8 am and 3 pm. 

During the monthly HHW/E-cycling/Personal Document Shredding event, District residents may bring toxic items such as pesticides, batteries and cleaning fluids to Ft. Totten, along with computers, televisions and other unwanted electronic equipment.  Personal document shredding also is available that day and residents may bring up to five boxes of materials to be shredded.  No business or commercial material will be accepted. 

To accommodate residents whose religious beliefs prohibit them from using the Saturday drop-off, DPW will accept household hazardous waste and e-cyclables on Wednesday, July 3 from 1 pm to 5 pm.  While DPW normally offers personal document shredding during the Saturday event, items for shredding cannot be accepted on Wednesday, July 3 because these documents cannot be protected until the shredding contractor arrives on Saturday.  (DPW usually provides this alternate drop-off day the Thursday before the first Saturday of the month, but because of the July 4th holiday, these services will be provided July 3.)  For a list of all household hazardous waste and e-cyclables accepted by DPW, please click on the HHW link at www.dpw.dc.gov.

DPW reminds residents that certain batteries (lithium-based and batteries greater than 9 volts) should be taped before being brought to Ft. Totten.  Lithium-based batteries are most commonly found in cell phones, digital cameras and laptops.  Also, hearing aids, watches and keyless remotes typically use button cells, containing lithium.  To safely dispose of batteries with lithium or batteries of greater than 9 volts, put clear, masking or electrical tape on the batteries’ terminals.  Flat button batteries can be sandwiched between two layers of tape.  Examples are pictured on the next page.  Place these batteries in a separate container from other batteries that don’t require being taped, e.g., A, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt batteries.

*Directions to Ft. Totten:  Travel east on Irving Street, NW, turn left on Michigan Avenue, turn left on John F. McCormack Drive, NE and continue to the end of the street.  Directions from additional locations can be found at dpw.dc.gov/node/414922.

Examples of Batteries That Should Be Taped Before Bringing Ft. Totten for the Monthly Household Hazardous Waste/E-cycling Drop-off