How To Dispose Of Hand Sanitizer, Which Is Household Hazardous Waste

Press release from the City of Fairfax :

04/24/2023 12:30 PM

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer remains a reliable resource to fight germs and viruses, and you should continue to practice handwashing and hand-sanitizing for good health and safety.

However, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is ignitable and should never be poured down the drain.

Please dispose of it as household hazardous waste.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should never be poured down the drain. Ignitable materials can be very dangerous when poured down the drain. The liquid and vapors in water pipes and sewer systems can cause fires and explosions.

Empty containers of hand sanitizer may be placed in your curbside recycling bins.

However, if hand sanitizer remains in the container, please take the container to a household hazardous waste drop-off location or event for proper management.The closest location for Fairfax City residents is the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Rd., Fairfax. Click here to visit the transfer station webpage. (Fairfax City and Fairfax County residents may be asked to show ID for some disposal services.)

To find other local household hazardous waste drop-off locations near you, enter your ZIP code in Earth911’s household hazardous waste search.

For consumer information about safely using hand sanitizer, visit FDA’s website.

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.