fire prevention
Disposal of Hazardous Material
HOW DO I DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
As a Fire Protection District, we DO NOT collect and/or dispose of hazardous materials from personal households. If a hazardous material response is needed or required for a spill or release, the property owner or occupant can be responsible and charged for the full cost of the Fire Department response as well as the full cost of remediation.
As the waste collection company for the region, Waste Management lists a variety of items, and which are eligible for home collection by them and what you have transport to them for disposal.
Paint
Latex Paints – These can easily be disposed of because they are water-based. Simply remove the lid and let these cans dry out in the atmosphere, then place in your regular trash.
Oil-based and Spray Paints, Wood Preservative and Stains – See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
Oily Rags
Rags or other cloths coated with a flammable/combustible liquid can be set on a concrete or asphalt surface away from other combustible materials and left to dry in the atmosphere for 1-3 days. Then place them in a sealed container and dispose of the container in your regular trash. You can also place them in a sealed container with water for a few days.
Unused/Expired Medications
Grind up pills and place them in your regular trash. Pour out liquids/elixirs into regular trash.
Mercury (Quicksilver)
On your personal property – Leave it where you found it, especially if already contained, and contact a hazardous materials disposal company for proper collection and disposal.
NOTE: If you have a spill or release of this or any other hazardous materials on your personal property, you are responsible and you can be charged for the full cost of the Fire Department response as well as the full cost of remediation.
If found in public – Leave it as you found it and contact 911.
Compressed Gas Cylinders
Propane and other compressed gas tanks and cylinders should be taken to a propane supplier or other compressed gas supplier for service, refill, and disposal.
Expired/Unwanted Road Flares
These are considered hazardous materials. See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
Fireworks/Ammunition and/or Reloading Supplies (Black Powder)
To properly neutralize fireworks, fill a bucket with water and submerge the fireworks for 24 hours. After 24 hours in water, wrap the soaked fireworks in a trash bag and contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
NOTE: Fireworks are illegal throughout all of Washoe County. For ammunition and/or reloading supplies, see Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
Batteries
See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
Electronics
See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal. Some stores, like Best Buy, offer free recycling too.
Fire Extinguishers
TMFPD does NOT service, recharge, or dispose of fire extinguishers. For service or recharge of fire extinguishers, please search for a Nevada licensed fire extinguisher company.
For disposal of unserviceable, obsolete, or unwanted fire extinguishers, see the Waste Management website for proper collection and disposal.
Smoke Detectors
These may be considered by disposal companies to be hazardous materials due to the small amount of radioactive material inside that makes them function. See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
Tires
These are considered to be hazardous materials. See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
Unknown or Unlabeled Materials
See Waste Management website or Contact Waste Management for proper collection and disposal.
More Information from Waste Management
SEE THE WASTE MANAGEMENT WEBSITE FOR MORE:
Visit the Waste Management Website HereThese common hazardous materials can be collected through our At Your Door™ service (where available):
- Automotive products: antifreeze, fluids, motor oil, oil filters, gasoline, polish and waxes
- Batteries: home and vehicle batteries
- TVs, computers, laptops, cell phones, printers, fax machines, MP3 players, DVD/CD/cassette players and more
- Fluorescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)
- Mercury containing devices: thermometers and thermostats
- Paint products: oil-based, latex and spray paints, caulk, wood preservative and wood stain
- Garden chemicals: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer and insecticides
- Sharps: syringes, needles and lancets
- Swimming pool chemicals
- Other household chemicals: toilet bowl cleaner, shower/tile cleaner, carpet cleaner, rust remover and more
