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Household Hazardous Waste

We hold drop-off days for household hazardous waste throughout the year. Scroll down to find our Household Hazardous Waste Day events schedule.

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You must be a Boston resident to drop unwanted materials at our Household Hazardous Waste Days. You need to provide a photo ID, utility bill, or lease as proof of residency. We will not accept any waste from businesses. We also reserve the right to reject any materials that do not meet our regulations.

  • Have questions? Contact 311:

  • 1 city hall square, room 714
    boston, ma 02201

Upcoming Events

Events

There are no upcoming events available at this time.

We accept these materials

Accepted Materials
  • ​​​​​​Antifreeze
  • Brake fluid
  • Car batteries
  • Carburetor cleaner
  • Degreasers
  • Engine solvents
  • Gasoline and kerosene
  • Motor oil and oil filters
  • Tires (never throw tires out with your regular trash)
  • Tire cleaners
  • Transmission fluid
  • Acids and sulfuric acid, aerosol cans
  • Ammonia cleaners, radiator cleaners, rug cleaners, and upholstery cleaners
  • Artist supplies and hobby supplies like rubber cement
  • Caulk, chemistry set chemicals, pool chemicals
  • Driveway sealer, creosote, furnace cement, and roof cement
  • Dry-cell batteries,  fiberglass resins, and metal cleaners
  • Fire starters, flammable liquids, floor-care products, and furniture polish
  • Mercury bearing waste from fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats, and mercury switches
  • Photography chemicals, pool chemicals, propane tanks, and rust preventatives
  • Sealant, solvent adhesives, solvent-based cleaners
  • Wax stripper and Wood preservatives
  • Brighteners
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Detergents
  • Drain cleaners
  • Lighter fluid
  • Moth balls and crystals
  • Oven cleaners
  • Rodent killers
  • Softeners
  • Spray starch
  • Whiteners
  • Cesspool cleaners
  • Fertilizers
  • Flammable liquids
  • Flea and tick powder
  • Fungicides
  • Herbicides
  • Insecticides
  • No-pest strips
  • Pesticides
  • Poisons
  • Weed killers
  • Paint thinners
  • Paint strippers
  • Shellacs
  • Stains
  • Turpentine
  • Varnish

These items must be clean, dry, and odorless. 

Footwear (in pairs): 

  • Shoes 

  • Heels (wedges, pumps) 

  • Flats 

  • Sandals 

  • Flip Flops 

  • Boots (work boots, dress boots, winter boots) 

  • Sneakers 

  • Cleats 

  • Slippers 

Clothing: 

  • Tops (T-shirts, blouses, shirts, tank tops) 

  • Sweaters 

  • Sweatshirts 

  • Dresses 

  • Outerwear (coats, jackets, blazers) 

  • Bottoms (pants, slacks, jeans, sweatpants, skirts, shorts) 

  • Suits 

  • Socks 

  • Pajamas 

  • Slips 

  • Bras 

  • Underwear 

 

Accessories: 

  • Hats 

  • Bags (pocketbooks, backpacks, duffle bags, totes) 

  • Belts 

  • Gloves 

  • Ties 

  • Scarves 

  • Bathrobes 

Linens: 

  • Sheets 

  • Blankets 

  • Towels 

  • Curtains/Drapes 

  • Aprons 

  • Dish cloths 

  • Cloth napkins 

  • Table linens 

  • Comforters 

  • Throw rugs 

  • Placemats 

Other: 

  • Halloween costumes 

  • Sports jerseys 

  • Pet clothing 

  • Canvas

Some accepted items are listed below but not limited to:

  • Computers: desktops, towers, laptops, monitors, and tablets

  • Microwaves, cameras, robots

  • LCD flat panel monitors

  • Printers: inkjets, laserjets, copiers, and scanners

  • Networking equipment: switches, routers, and servers

  • Audio and Video equipment: VHS players, DVD players, stereos, speakers, headphones

  • Telephones: cell phones and landline phones

  • Other electronic accessories: keyboards, mouse devices, cables, and wires

Batteries can cause fires if not disposed of correctly. Put tape on terminals and bring to a local retailer or one of Boston's Hazardous Waste Days. 

  • Lithium-ion rechargeable
    • Typically found in cell phones, laptops, and small power tools. 
  • Rechargeable  AA, AAA, C, D, 9V (NI-CAD)
  • Lithium primary
  • Lead acid automotive or sealed
  • Button cell battery, watch battery, coin battery

We do not accept these materials

  • Asbestos
  • Explosives
  • Radioactive material
  • Printed circuit boards
  • Household Alkaline Batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9V)
  • Construction and demolition materials 
  • Refrigerators, TVs, and air conditioners
  • Latex and acrylic paint (Let the paint dry out and set it with your regular trash)
  • Medical waste, like prescription pills and medicine (what to do with medical waste)

Keep in mind

  • We only take waste from Boston residents. You must provide a photo ID, utility bill, or lease as proof of residency. We will not accept any waste from businesses.
  • Latex and acrylic paint are NOT hazardous. Just let the paint dry out in the can and put it out on your trash day, or donate to a local second hand store!
  • We offer paper shredding at all of our events. We will shred up to 10 copy paper size boxes or containers of your personal documents
  • If you have any questions about our drop-offs, please contact BOS:311.

Paint and Motor Oil Drop-offs

Public Works hosts Saturday swap shops once a month, from May through August, for surplus paint, stains, and varnishes. Residents can also bring used motor oil to this event to be recycled.

PAINT AND MOTOR OIL DROP-OFF SCHEDULE

Drop-offs for 2023 have ended, stayed tuned for the 2024 schedule! 

Recycling paint and motor oil information

BOS:311

BOS:311
All BOS:311 requests Improper storage of trash barrels Overflowing or Unkempt Dumpster Request a bulk item pickup Request recycling and yard waste stickers Schedule a special collection item for pickup

Safely throw out prescription drugs

The Boston Police Department has anonymous, safe drug disposal kiosks at select district stations. Please leave the medication in its container, and erase any names or prescription numbers. The police don’t accept prescription drugs from businesses. You can drop off old or unused prescription drugs 24 hours a day, seven days a week at these locations:

  • District A-1: 40 New Sudbury St., Boston, MA 02114
  • District A-7: 69 Paris St., East Boston, MA 02128
  • District B-2: 2400 Washington St., Roxbury, MA 02119
  • District B-3: 1165 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02124
  • District C-6: 101 West Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127
  • District C-11: 40 Gibson Street, Dorchester, MA 02122
  • District D-4: 650 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02116
  • District D-14: 301 Washington St., Brighton, MA 02135
  • District E-5: 1708 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132 
  • District E-13: 3345 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
  • District E-18: 1249 Hyde Park Ave., Hyde Park, MA 02136 
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