2026 Household Hazardous Waste Event

Thank you for your questions about the 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Event. As of this posting, the event is less than 24 hours away, and staff are now unable to respond to additional questions. Please follow the event guidelines as shown below, to include the list of accepted items and limitations on quantities for each item. Do not bring any prohibited items to the event, and please note that this free event is for Union County residents only. No commercial waste will be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Every fall, the Union County Solid Waste Department hosts a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event to give County residents a free opportunity to rid their homes of certain materials that are not accepted at county waste sites or in their curbside carts. Residents can protect their loved ones and the environment by disposing of these materials safely and responsibly at the Union County Agricultural Center on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

All materials must be in their original labeled containers. Here's what you can bring for free disposal:

  • paints & stains
    • full or partially full cans of spray paint (up to 10 cans)
    • oil-based paints & stains*
    • note: not all paints are considered hazardous waste. Visit our Paints page to learn how to dispose of water-based paints safely at home.
  • pesticides*
  • herbicides*
  • household cleaners*
  • oil*
  • gasoline*
    (*up to five gallons each of any of the above materials)
  • up to three propane or helium tanks (grill size only)
  • up to five boxes of documents for shredding
  • expired or unneeded medications (over-the-counter, prescription, or unknown) for safe disposal through Operation Medicine Drop, a service of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

NOT ACCEPTED: business waste (household waste only), electronics, ammunition, gun powder, explosives, radioactive materials, bio-medical waste.

When you arrive at the event, drive through the parking lot as directed. Our staff will assist you with removing materials from your vehicle.

This event is always well attended, but because it only happens once a year, you may have questions about what to bring, quantity limitations, and what to expect.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's event on Saturday, Sept. 12! Get the event details and add it to your calendar.

Every fall, the Union County Solid Waste Department hosts a Household Hazardous Waste Collection event to give County residents a free opportunity to rid their homes of certain materials that are not accepted at county waste sites or in their curbside carts. Residents can protect their loved ones and the environment by disposing of these materials safely and responsibly at the Union County Agricultural Center on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

All materials must be in their original labeled containers. Here's what you can bring for free disposal:

  • paints & stains
    • full or partially full cans of spray paint (up to 10 cans)
    • oil-based paints & stains*
    • note: not all paints are considered hazardous waste. Visit our Paints page to learn how to dispose of water-based paints safely at home.
  • pesticides*
  • herbicides*
  • household cleaners*
  • oil*
  • gasoline*
    (*up to five gallons each of any of the above materials)
  • up to three propane or helium tanks (grill size only)
  • up to five boxes of documents for shredding
  • expired or unneeded medications (over-the-counter, prescription, or unknown) for safe disposal through Operation Medicine Drop, a service of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

NOT ACCEPTED: business waste (household waste only), electronics, ammunition, gun powder, explosives, radioactive materials, bio-medical waste.

When you arrive at the event, drive through the parking lot as directed. Our staff will assist you with removing materials from your vehicle.

This event is always well attended, but because it only happens once a year, you may have questions about what to bring, quantity limitations, and what to expect.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's event on Saturday, Sept. 12! Get the event details and add it to your calendar.

Thank you for your questions about the 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Event. As of this posting, the event is less than 24 hours away, and staff are now unable to respond to additional questions. Please follow the event guidelines as shown below, to include the list of accepted items and limitations on quantities for each item. Do not bring any prohibited items to the event, and please note that this free event is for Union County residents only. No commercial waste will be accepted. Thank you for your cooperation. 

If you have questions about the event after this date, please call 704-296-4260.   


  • Do you accept latex paint at this event?

    asked about 1 month ago

    Thanks for your question about latex-based paint. While staff will accept oil-based paint, stains, solvents, and spray paint at the Household Hazardous Waste Event (these materials are considered hazardous), latex-based paint is water-based and can be disposed of in your regular household garbage, so there's no need to dispose of it using a special collection service. Learn more about disposing of latex-based paint on our Paint Disposal page here, which features a helpful video:https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/departments-r-z/waste-and-recycling/disposal-guidance/paints

  • Would you accept a cordless hedge trimmer?

    Skippy asked about 2 months ago

    Hello, we are not accepting electronics or gas powered equipment at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. Electronic hedge trimmers are accepted in our year-round Electronics Recycling program. To view sites where you can drop off electronics for free recycling year-round, please visit this page: https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/departments-r-z/waste-and-recycling/disposal-guidance/electronics

     

  • What about batteries?

    Annie asked about 2 months ago

    Hello, thanks for your question about batteries at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. While we are not accepting batteries at this event, we do accept household quantities of rechargeable batteries and lithium batteries year-round as part of our Electronics Recycling program. Look for our electronics recycling bins at our Convenience Centers (available at all centers except our White Store location) and the Landfill. Union County residents can recycle household quantities of rechargeable batteries and lithium batteries for free. For more information about how to dispose of batteries and other specific items, please visit our Disposal Guidance page: https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/departments-r-z/waste-and-recycling/disposal-guidance 

  • Are you taking fluorescent light bulbs? Thanks

    Leslie T asked 2 months ago

    Thanks for your question about fluorescent light bulbs. These are not considered hazardous waste and will not be accepted at our Household Hazardous Waste event. We have disposal guidance for light bulbs on our website here: https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/departments-r-z/waste-and-recycling/disposal-guidance

  • For the document shredding. Do they have the vehicles with the shredders on site so that we are able to see it is shredded before we leave?

    Jennifer asked 2 months ago

    Hello, thank you for contacting Union County. 

    Yes, we contract with a secure document shredder who does the shredding in real-time at the event with a specialized truck. 

    Please note that shredded documents are limited to five boxes per vehicle; these must be materials from your home, not documents from businesses.