Clearing out a garage, a basement or a whole house

A clear-out turns up things that can't go out with the regular trash. Leftover paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients that need special care when you get rid of them.

The four piles

Set up four piles before you start: keep, donate or sell, recycle and toss.

Household chemicals

Leftover products that can catch fire, react, explode, or are corrosive or toxic are household hazardous waste. Pouring them down the drain, on the ground or into storm sewers is improper disposal, and so, in some cases, is putting them out with the trash.

• Keep them in their original containers. Never store hazardous products in food containers, and never remove the labels.
• Never mix leftovers. Incompatible products can react, ignite or explode.
• Read the label for disposal directions. Following them reduces the risk of a product leaking or reacting on the way to a disposal site.
• Corroding containers. Call your local hazardous materials official or fire department for instructions.
• Find a collection. Many communities have household hazardous waste collection, at a permanent site or on set days, and your local solid waste agency can tell you where. Some local garages take used motor oil for recycling.

Lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries, and devices that contain them, should not go in household trash or recycling bins. Take them to separate battery recycling or household hazardous waste collection points. To prevent fires, tape the terminals or put each battery in its own plastic bag.

Electronics

Before donating or recycling electronics, delete all personal information from them. Remove the batteries, which may need to be recycled separately. Many manufacturers and retailers offer donation and recycling.

An annotated example

What to do next

Look up your area's household hazardous waste collection before the clear-out, so the chemicals have somewhere to go. Bag or tape any loose lithium-ion batteries as you find them, and wipe old phones and computers before they leave the house.