Waste Rules
Some items never belong in the household cart, whatever the local collection day is. Pick a material or a category.
How to Dispose of Old Medication Before Take Back Day 2026
The DEA's next Take Back Day is October 24, 2026 — what to do with unused medicine before and after it.
Christmas trees need a local January program, not a cart rule
A cut fir is yard waste in January. Dates are local and seasonal. Do not copy last January onto this winter.
Mattress disposal: how to get rid of one without guessing
A mattress is bulky. Stewardship drop-off exists in four states. Everywhere else the answer is local.
Lithium-ion batteries do not go in the trash or the recycling cart
EPA says used lithium-ion batteries and the devices that hold them stay out of the trash and recycling carts.
Household hazardous waste goes to a local collection, not the cart
Paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides do not go in the household cart. Use the local HHW site or event.
Latex and oil-based paint take different paths
Water cleanup means latex. Mineral spirits means oil-based. PaintCare drop-off exists only in participating states.
Pizza boxes are a local rule, not a national yes or no
A pizza box is cardboard with grease. Some cities take it in recycling. Some do not.