Some household waste is illegal to dispose of as garbage and requires special handling for proper disposal. We encourage you to read and follow the instructions below. You may find additional information on our Household Material Recovery Facility (H-MRF) page, or call our Recycling HelpLine at (914) 813-5425.
Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities
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Environmental Facilities
- Special Waste
Motor oil, oil filters and vehicle batteries require special handling. State law requires service stations and retailers that sell motor oil to accept free of charge, up to five gallons per person per day. Several disposal options are available for tires too.
Not every household battery is disposed of in the same way. Non-rechargeable alkaline and carbon zinc and rechargeable alkaline batteries can be disposed of in the garbage. But other kinds of rechargeable and button cell silver oxide batteries must be recycled.
Electronics produce lots of waste. From cell phones to TVs to computers and laptops. With new technology rendering these items obsolete within months often, this accumlation of waste is addressed through municipal and county recycling.
Fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the bulb, so they should not be disposed with household garbage. Compact fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs are accepted at Home Depot and Lowe's stores.
Think of the potential mess a can of liquid paint can cause to the road, a truck or sanitation crew if it spills or splatters. Only latex-based paint (NOT oil-based) may be legally and safely disposed of in your garbage by following simple instructions.
Residual gas should always be burned off through proper use of the grill prior to transport or disposal. Even if it seems empty, make sure the tank is sealed with a plastic cap before transit to prevent injury. Currently, BBQ Tanks are accepted by the county’s Household Material Recovery Facility.
The H-MRF now accepts textiles for recycling. Accepted materials include any type of material composed of natural or synthetic fibers such as products made from wool, silk, linen, cotton, polyester, leather, vinyl, hemp, and rayon. Textiles can be dropped off in any condition (torn, worn, stained, missing buttons, broken zippers, etc.) as long as they are clean, dry, and odorless.