Working with Communities for the Safe and Free Disposal of Household Chemicals

Household hazardous waste comes from everyday products used in the home, garage, yard or garden. By definition, they are corrosive, flammable, toxic or reactive. These products can be disposed of for free at HazWaste Central. HazWaste Central helps protect the water resources in greater New Haven while providing cost-effective municipal services. Because the chemicals are safely collected, the land and important waterways are not polluted. A visit to HazWaste Central is quick and easy. Participants never have to leave their cars, and the waste is off-loaded by professionals. The checklist below will help identify products by rooms in your home.

HazWaste Central 2010 Schedule

Open Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon
Opening May 15, 2010. Closing October 30, 2010.
Closed these holiday weekends:
May 29 (Memorial Day)
July 3 (Independence Day)
September 4 (Labor Day)

When and Where?

Location: We're located right behind the Regional Water Authority's headquarters, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven, (that's just south of I-95 exit 46-Long Wharf—a short distance from the junction of I-91 and the Connecticut Turnpike). Click for map.
Schedule: Follow this link for this year’s full schedule.

Who’s Eligible?

HazWaste Central is free to residents of Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, East Haven, Fairfield, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.

Small Business Info

Small businesses (CESQG's) can now participate in the HazWaste Central Program, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. There are requirements for delivery. Download the Information Packet.

User Questionnaire

Link here for a User Questionnaire which you can print and fill out prior to coming in.

What Happens to the Waste?

An interesting thing happens as soon as we accept your household hazardous waste. Once it is in our hands, your old household products becomes hazardous waste. They then fall under stringent regulations for handling, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous materials of Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Clean Harbors Environmental Services of New Britain, CT removes household hazardous wastes from you car, identifies it, enters it into a record keeping system and pack it into a 55-gallon drum of similar wastes.

Clean Harbors Environmental Services transports the drums to federally approved disposal sites. Some materials from HazWaste Central are incinerated in special facilities approved for disposal of hazardous wastes. Others are placed in special landfills. When possible, materials from HazWaste Central are recycled or reused.

Want to Volunteer?

Volunteering at HazWaste Central is one way you can act locally after thinking globally.

Volunteers help at the Center by collecting information from people as they drive into the site. Volunteers do not come in, remove, or handle any of the wastes brought to HazWaste Central.

Call us at 203.401.2712 for information about becoming a HazWaste Central Volunteer or to sign up to help at your community's next Hometown Day at HazWaste Central.

Why Are We First in Connecticut?

HazWaste Central is Connecticut's first permanent center for the collection and disposal of household hazardous wastes. We replaced a system of one-day drives collecting household hazardous wastes which were usually conducted on a town-wide basis.

Our Center allows residents to safely dispose of household hazardous wastes during a 23 week season. Its easier for consumers—our lines are usually shorter than at a one-day collection drive. And it is cost-effective for participating communities.

Who’s Behind HazWaste Central?

The Regional Water Authority worked with the South Central Regional Council of Governments to form HazWaste Central in 1989. Our Center grew out of the Water Authority's interest in protecting the region's water resources and the Council's concern for cost-effective municipal services.

HazWaste Central began collection of household hazardous waste in June, 1990, from 16 communities. The town of Fairfield joined in 1992. HazWaste Central now serves a combined population of over 535,416.

If you like HazWaste Central, please let your First Selectman or Mayor know how you feel. If you don't like it, please let us know.

What Have We Done for the Environment?

Since 1990, HazWaste Central has collected over 1 million gallons of waste from more than 113,000 households.