Household Hazardous Waste
The City of Fort Lauderdale offers several opportunities throughout the year for you to dispose of acceptable household hazardous waste (HHW). Fort Lauderdale residents may participate in any of the events listed below.
What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?
Household hazardous waste includes products with toxic ingredients or components which require special disposal to prevent pollution to waterways, groundwater, air, and soil, as well as to prevent poisoning or otherwise endangering humans, pets, or wildlife. Many of the products we use for cleaning, painting, gluing, automotive, pool, lawn, medications, and electronic components are considered hazardous waste.
Household hazardous waste does not include industrial waste or construction debris which must be disposed of according to specialized regulations and are not accepted at drop-off events.
HHW Items Accepted
- Paint, oil, latex
- Paint thinner and stripper
- Motor oil, filters, fluids, gasoline
- Pesticides and insecticides
- Fertilizers
- Pool chemicals
- Fluorescent tubes
- Spot removers
- Oven and drain cleaners
- Furniture and metal polish
- Mercury containing thermostats
- Lithium batteries
- Propane tanks
- Fuel
Electronics Accepted
- Computers/laptops
- Monitors
- Keyboards
- Mice
- Terminals
- Printers
- Fax machines
- Modems
- Cell phones
- Rechargeable batteries
- Televisions
- Copy machines
Items Not Accepted
- Biohazard and medical waste
- Explosives
- Ammunition
- Commercial waste
- Furniture
- Stereos or speakers
- Musical instruments
- DVD players or VCR's
- Appliances
- Microwave ovens
- Electric hand tools
- Trash and debris
See Illegal Dumping? Report Environmental Crimes!
Dumping trash and/or household hazardous waste onto private or City property, or into a storm drain is considered an environmental crime and it's illegal. If you witness illegal dumping or any environmental crime, please call (954) 828-5700. Be prepared to provide the suspect's description, tag number, and a vehicle description, including any markings, damage, or business name imprinted on it. Phone calls will be confidential and, if desired, callers will remain anonymous.
Remember
It is dangerous and illegal to place any oil waste, dangerous substances, or hazardous material for garbage collection. (Code of Ordinances Article I Sec. 24-25)
There is no need to wait for the next drop-off event to safely dispose of unwanted electronics. City of Fort Lauderdale residents can conveniently and safely dispose of home electronics curbside on the same day that their recycling is collected.
Upcoming Drop-Off Events
Form
FAQs
How can I help with the TAKE 5 program?
More information about how to get involved can be found on our Green Your Routine page.
Can I get my recycle cart back after it has been removed?
You will be eligible to apply for a recycle cart after 90 days. You will be required to complete the TAKE5 anti-contamination course and sign the TAKE5 pledge. The contents of the recycle cart will be monitored with future inspections to ensure only the acceptable items are placed in the cart.
How will the TAKE5 program work?
For 3 consecutive weeks, City of Fort Lauderdale employees and Green Your Routine volunteers will be checking the contents of blue recycling carts placed curbside in specific neighborhoods on their scheduled recycling day. Recycling carts that do not have any contamination will be given a “Good Job” tag.
Recycling carts containing garbage and non-recyclable materials will be tagged to identify the non-recyclable materials and will not be serviced. The non-recyclable materials must be removed from the cart in order to be serviced on the next scheduled recycling day. Carts found to have contamination after 3 inspections may be subject to immediate removal.
What are the acceptable items that should be placed in the blue recycling cart?
- Paper
- Metal Cans
- Cardboard
- Plastic Bottles and Containers
- Glass Containers
More Details about TAKE5
What is TAKE5?
TAKE5 was developed by the City of Fort Lauderdale to improve the recycling collection program by eliminating contamination and increase the quality of collected materials. This helps to keep the costs to our City as low as possible. More details about TAKE5
Do I need to schedule a curbside pick-up for my electronics?
Yes. You can schedule a pick-up by 4pm on the day before your regularly scheduled recycling day by completing an online Curbside Electronics Pick-Up Request Form or calling the 24-Hour Neighbor Call Center at (954) 828-8000.
How do I set my electronics out for collection?
All electronics should be placed to the curb next to your blue cart no earlier than 6pm the night before your scheduled collection day but no later than 7am on your scheduled collection day. You can place items in a cardboard box if they are small.
What holidays will I not receive collection?
The City of Fort Lauderdale has regular collections on all holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day.
Why should I recycle my electronics?
Electronics contain heavy metals and other environmental contaminants. By recycling them, you will prevent pollution and allow useful components to be repurposed.