Two Gwinnett County Departments Team Up for Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on June 13

After another highly successful Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in February that witnessed the collection of 51.70 TONS of spray paint, auto batteries, lawn care products, insecticides, and more, Gwinnett County has a summer event in the works. On Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to noon, representatives from Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources will gather with dozens of volunteers at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds to help residents rid their homes of household hazardous waste (HHW). Defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic, these bi-annual HHW events provide a way for residents to properly dispose of products that are expired or no longer needed.

“Due to potential environmental impacts, products that fall under the household hazardous waste category cannot simply be tossed in the trash or flushed down the drain,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “They can cause groundwater, lake, or stream pollution, which needlessly harms our local ecosystems and water quality. We hosted our first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day back in 2018, with that inaugural event serving 800 households and processing more than 30 tons of waste. Last year, with our two 2025 HHW events combined, we served 2,236 households and processed 87 tons of waste – illustrating the significant growth and impact of these events over the last eight years.”

Marlatt conveyed the importance of volunteers to support Gwinnett County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days, “I’m proud of the fact that our volunteer count has also grown in step with the size of these events. It takes dozens of volunteers to keep lines of well over a thousand cars moving smoothly. That said, these are never ‘dump-and-run’ events. They’re controlled, professional operations designed to protect our community and the environment. Proper handling of household hazardous waste is a carefully managed process that ensures safety and environmental responsibility. Each item brought to the event is first identified by an on-site chemist, then sorted, packaged, and labeled by trained and certified staff based on its chemical composition, quantity, and packaging requirements. Materials are then manifested for transport in accordance with strict state and federal regulations, ensuring they are properly recycled, reused, or disposed of at approved facilities. We appreciate our neighbors' patience and understanding as our staff and volunteers work safely and efficiently throughout the event. We’ll do our best to get them back on their way as quickly as possible.”

Those interested in registering as a volunteer for the June 13 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day can visit https://cerv.is/0024×4516. There will be three shifts available for volunteers, and they will have access to water and snacks, with lunch provided. Volunteers must be 16 or older to participate.

Items that will be accepted during the June 13 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day include:

·Aerosol/spray pesticides

·Automotive products (engine degreaser, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)

·Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids, and bases

·Aerosol/spray paint

·Auto batteries

·Batteries (household and rechargeable)

·Chlorinated solvents

·Cooking oil and grease

·Fire extinguishers

·Flammables (lighter fluid and waste fuels like kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)

·Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts

·Hand sanitizer

·Insecticides

·Latex and water-based paints

·Lawn care products

·Mercury

·Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers

·Oil-based paint and stains

·Oxidizers

·Pesticides

·Poisons

·Propane cylinders

·Solvents and varnishes

·Thermostats and other mercury-containing items

·Thinners and paint strippers

·Weed killer

·Wood preservatives

Items that will NOT be accepted include ammunition, radioactive waste, pharmaceuticals, biomedical/biohazard waste, and fireworks. This event will also NOT include the collection of electronics, tires, or paper for shredding. Gwinnett residents may bring up to five “containers” of household hazardous waste for FREE. Containers may be the size of a laundry basket, a small moving box, or a paper grocery bag. Attendees should note that containers will not be returned. Gwinnett County Fairgrounds is located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Attendees are asked to enter using the main entrance off Sugarloaf Parkway at the traffic light.

Questions about the event may be directed to gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org or 770-822-5187. To learn more about Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, its programs, and upcoming events, visit www.GwinnettCB.org.