Moore County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event is typically held in the Fall each year. 

What is Household Hazardous Waste? 

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is products used in and around your home that have one or more of the following characteristics: Corrosivity; Toxicity; Flammability; Reactivity. Read the label to determine which products require special handling. Warnings such as "poisonous or toxic", "flammable or ignitable", or "corrosive" are indicators that the items should be disposed of as HHW. Cleaners that contain strong acids, bleach, or ammonia are also hazardous. 

What to Do With Unwanted Household Hazardous Waste

HHW requires special handling and disposal through licensed hazardous waste companies. Moore County has a drop-off site at their Eagle Springs location, 364 Eagle Springs Road, solely for household hazardous waste. Residents can drop off HHW items at this site every Saturday from 7:00am-7:00pm. Residents are also encouraged to bring HHW to a special drop-off event sponsored by Moore County and the Village of Pinehurst each November.

Oil-based paint and paint products that require the use of paint thinner or mineral spirits are considered hazardous. These products are accepted at Moore County's annual Household Hazardous Waste collection event. Water-based paints are not considered hazardous and can be prepared for safe disposal with household trash. To prepare latex paint for disposal with household garbage, mix paint with an absorbent such as cat litter, sawdust or a commercial paint hardener. Once the paint is solidified, place it in a trash bag and dispose with your household garbage. Please dispose of empty paint cans with your regular household garbage. 

What Happens to Household Hazardous Waste? 

What happens to hazardous waste after items are dropped off at a collection event depends on the type of material. Items such as fluorescent bulbs, batteries, oil, antifreeze and latex paint are recycled. Flammable liquids and oil based paints are used for energy recovery. While some other items are stabilized (acids, bases, caustic products) or destructively incinerated, few items are disposed in hazardous waste landfills. 

Benefits of Proper Household Hazardous Waste Management 

Disposing of your HHW at Moore County's special collection event benefits you, the community, and the environment by:

• Keeping toxic chemicals out of landfills
• Reducing the potential for groundwater contamination
• Preventing pollution on our streets from garbage trucks
• Eliminating exposure to toxins for sanitation workers
• Protecting local bodies of water from contamination
• Reducing the incidence of household chemical poisoning of children and pets

Transporting Household Hazardous Waste

• Keep items in their original and labeled containers.
• Do not mix the contents of unknown or unlabeled containers.
• Make sure that the containers are not leaking prior to bringing them to a collection event.
• Do not transport containers with open lids.
• Place chemicals away from passengers.
• Secure all containers so they cannot slide, tip or spill contents.

Examples of Accepted Household Hazardous Waste

Kitchen/Bathroom

• Expired or unused medicines (these can also be dropped off anytime at the Pinehurst Police Department, 420 Magnolia Road)
• Drain cleaners
• Mercury thermometers
• Aerosol cans
• Bleach, ammonia
• Nail polish
• Metal polish with solvent

Garden

• Pesticides, herbicides (in their original containers)
• Fungicides, insecticides (in their original containers)
• Weed and feed
• Deck wash and stains

Garage

• Used oil, anti-freeze
• Brake, transmission fluids
• Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, fuel oil
• Car batteries, battery acid

Miscellaneous

• Rechargeable batteries
• Mercury
• Moth balls
• All propane tanks
• Acids
• Pool chemicals
• Fiberglass epoxy
• Lighter fluid
• Photo chemicals

Workshop

• Fluorescent and CFL bulbs
• Glue-solvent based
• Oil-based paint and primer
• Solvents, paint thinner
• Turpentine
• Varnish and wood stain
• Wood preservatives

Items NOT Accepted at Household Hazardous Waste events:

• Tires
• Ammunition
• Commercial Waste
• Electronic Waste