Note:

Non-commercial vehicles only.

Prince George’s County opened the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Acceptance Site in the spring of 2000. The site, which is located at the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill, is open and free of charge to County citizens and residents who need to dispose of harmful household waste.

Improper disposal of these materials is harmful to the environment:

Acid Car Batteries	Gas Grill Propane Tanks	Photographic Chemicals
Automotive Fluids and Fuels	Helium Balloon Tanks	Poisons
Cleaning Agents	Household Batteries	Smoke Detectors
Cooking Oil	Insecticides, Herbicides, and Fertilizers	Solvents, Varnishes, and Stains
Driveway Sealers	Kerosene (up to 5 gallons)	Swimming Pool Chemicals
Fire Extinguishers	Mercury and Other Hazardous Materials
Fluorescent Light Bulbs	Oil-Based Paints

Hazardous Waste Disposal Contract

To ensure the proper handling and disposal of the hazardous materials that are collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site, the county has contracted with a licensed hazardous waste disposal company. The professional team oversees the collection of items and materials at the drop-off facility as well as the community collection events. As an added convenience, the site is designed to be a drive-through location.

County residents do not have to leave their vehicles to dispose of their unwanted items. A licensed hazardous materials company professional will remove all acceptable items from your vehicle and dispose of them in an environmentally safe manner.

Collection for Senior Citizens & the Disabled 

As of June 2022, at-home collection of household hazardous waste is no longer available. Individuals may utilize the drop-off facility, Thursdays through Saturdays, or hire a licensed HHW vendor to pick up and dispose items at a licensed facility.

Handling and Proper Disposal of Asbestos

The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma cancer, lung cancer and asbestosis increases with every exposure to asbestos. To ensure proper handling and disposal of asbestos we encourage you to visit the Asbestos website to learn why it is important to handle asbestos safely: www.asbestos.com. 

Latex Paint

Please note: 

Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and should not be delivered to the Household Hazardous Waste site. Instead, residents should: 

• Donate leftover latex paint to relatives, friends or neighbors who might need the paint for a project.
• Allow leftover paint to dry and place it in their regular household trash bag for disposal.
• Use kitty litter or quick paint driving agents that many of the paint stores sell in packets. Once the paint dries, place dried paint can(s) in your regular trash bag for trash disposal.

Propane Tanks

Extreme care should be observed when disposing of old propane tanks. Even when seemingly empty, they still contain flammable gas which could cause an explosion. Some important handling tips:

• Do not attempt to remove the valve from the tank.
• Do not leave the valve open as the escaping gas is a fire hazard.
• Transport cylinders in a secure and upright position.

Tanks/cylinders must not be mixed with scrap metal at the convenience centers or at the collection lot in the landfill. There is a dedicated area for propane tanks at the site where they are accepted and managed separately. When disposing of materials please, for your safety and that of the attendants, be sure to inform the staff if propane tanks are present, so they can be tagged and secured.

Safe and proper disposal is vital to the environment! 

For questions, please call 301-952-7625.

Used Motor Oil and Antifreeze

County residents may safely dispose of UP TO 3 gallons per visit of used motor oil and antifreeze at: 

Brown Station Road Convenience Center  
3501 Brown Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Hours:
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Missouri Avenue Convenience Center 
12701 Missouri Avenue, Brandywine, MD 20613

Hours:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 6:30 a.m. —  3 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. —  6:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. —  4 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Lot located at the landfill 
11611 White House Road, Upper Marlboro, MD

Hours:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday ONLY: 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

Batteries

Please, do not place any battery in the trash or recycling container. Incorrect disposal of batteries can cause fires!

Batteries must be recycled or dropped off at a designated facility.

1. Prevent any fire risk by putting a little tape over the lithium-ion and 9-volt terminals until you are ready to dispose of them.
2. Collect used batteries in a container that won’t cause a spark such as a cardboard box or plastic tub.
3. Do not store different types of batteries together. If you have multiple types of batteries to dispose of, bag them separately.
4. Take all SINGLE-USE BATTERIES and RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES to an electronics or hardware retailer in your area that recycles batteries or the Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site.
5. Dispose of CAR BATTERIES at an auto parts retailer in your area or the Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site.
6. You can also check the EPA website for a list of Electronics Donation and Recycling businesses at www.epa.gov/recycle/electronics-donation-and-recycling. 

Dead batteries are not completely dead and must be stored and disposed of properly to prevent fires.

Click here to view a video on the proper disposal of batteries.

Proper Disposal of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

CFLs are being used in more homes and businesses than ever before. By using CFLs, consumers can save money and energy through reduced energy consumption and lower utility bills. CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury within the tubing - an average of 5 milligrams - and are safe to use in your home. However, the bulbs should be handled with care. Precautions should be taken to properly handle broken CFLs and to dispose of used fluorescent lamps.

Proper Disposal of CFLs

• Do not throw CFLs away in your household garbage.
• Consumers can take all used, unbroken CFL bulbs to any Home Depot store and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will be recycled by an environmental management company to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

Proper Clean-up for Broken CFLs

• Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
• On hard surfaces, carefully scoop up broken glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels in a plastic bag.
• On carpeting or rugs, carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken and place the vacuum bag and debris in a sealed plastic bag.
• Take the plastic bags to the Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance site for proper and safe disposal.

Holiday String Lights

Residents can recycle old holiday string lights at the Brown Station Road Landfill, Household Hazardous Waste Acceptance Site or the Brown Station Road Convenience Center, both located in Upper Marlboro. After the Christmas Day holiday, lights may be dropped off from December 26th to the first week in February, during regular business hours, Thursday thru Saturday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. 

Residents can also check with local hardware stores to recycle string lights. The lights are shredded into tiny bits and the bits are sorted into various components that make up the lights such as copper, glass, and PVC. The individual components are then recycled.

Smoke Detectors

Most smoke detectors have a very small amount of Americium 241, which is radioactive (requiring landfilling at a low-level radioactive landfill).

Options for proper disposal include returning smoke detectors to manufacturers, as many accept their product back for proper disposal. A listing of companies that take back smoke detectors and provide applicable information may be found by clicking here.

Prescription Drugs/Medications

Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original prescription bottles, or remove the label, to protect your personal information. Pills, capsules, and liquids should be placed in an impermeable container, such as an empty can or sealable bag, and mixed with coffee grounds, dirt, or kitty litter. Crushing the medication is recommended. Discard this mix with your regular trash. Unless specifically noted, do not throw prescriptions down the toilet or drain.

Trash or Recycling in PGC: Prescription Bottles and Medication (Video) - youtu.be/5Rs6fHt9HYc

Medical Waste

Never place medical waste, such as needles and syringes in your regular trash, recycling or yard trim bins for collection. Sharp items should never be thrown loosely into the trash or toilet. Safely seal items in a separate strong plastic container, and return to a designated waste collection site.

Search for local disposal options at www.safeneedledisposal.org.

View the list of acceptable items at the Electronics Recycling Acceptance Site here.