Household Hazardous Waste

A Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) drop-off event is held once per year, usually scheduled on or about the second Saturday in October.  This one-day event is offered free of charge to South Portland residents for the collection of HHW which could harm our environment if disposed of improperly. 

Drop-off dates will be advertised several weeks in advance on this web page, in local newspapers, in the News Hub on the City website, on the South Portland Public Works' Facebook page, in school information packs, and on electronic signs posted around the city.  A printable flyer is available for download here, and will be updated several weeks prior to the event: HHW Flyer (pdf).

If you are moving or otherwise unable to wait until our drop-off event, please contact us at 207-767-7635 for more information about the proper disposal of these hazardous products.  

Examples of items accepted at HHW event

FROM THE HOUSE    
Adhesives/Resins Cleaners/Drain openers Bleach
Moth Balls Polishes Removers
Hobby/Artists Paints Photo Chemicals Fluorescent/CFL Bulbs
Flea/Tick Control Nail Polish/Remover Hairspray/Hair Color
Rechargeable Batteries Thermometers/Thermostats Asbestos (double wrap in trash bags)
FROM THE BASEMENT & GARAGE    
Fuel/Gasoline/Kerosene Antifreeze Engine Degreaser
Automotive Fluids Car Wax/Polish Driveway Sealer
Roofing Tar Pool Chemicals Paint/Stain/Varnish
Paint Stripper/Thinner Solvents/Adhesives  
FROM THE YARD    
Insecticide/Bug Spray/Poison Fungicide/Herbicide Chemical Fertilizer

Not accepted at HHW event

Electronic Waste  Appliances (including A/C's) Smoke Detectors
Containers Larger than 5 gallons Household Trash/Empty Containers Alkaline (household) Batteries
Commercial/Industrial/Radioactive Waste Prescription/Over-the-counter Medicine Infectious/Biological Waste
Pressurized Cylinders Propane Cylinders Ammunition, Fireworks, Explosives
Fire Extinguishers Syringes/Medical Equipment Other items at workers' discretion

What You Need To Know, Day of Drop-off Event:

  • Event is free to South Portland residents with a transfer station sticker or current proof of residency. 
  • Event is for household hazardous waste only. No electronic waste accepted.
  • Follow signs and traffic cones to form a vehicle line at the gate to the Municipal Services Facility, 929 Highland Ave
  • Remain in your vehicle; workers will remove waste items from your car. 
  • No walk-ins permitted.  No business or commercial waste accepted
  • Gate opens at 8am. Queueing ends promptly at noon; all vehicles in line by noon will be processed
  • Event will be held rain or shine, but will be cancelled if a winter storm occurs that day
  • Transfer Station customers may proceed down access road directly to the Transfer Station.  No need to wait in event line.

Electronic Waste

At this time, Electronic Waste is not accepted at the South Portland Transfer Facility, and no drop off events are scheduled.  

Computer parts and peripherals can be recycled for free through the Dell Reconnect program offered at Goodwill retail stores throughout Maine.  

Many other electronic items can be recycled for free at Staples in South Portland or Falmouth.  See their website for more information, here: Staples recycling information

TVs and electronics that are not accepted at Goodwill or Staples but can be disposed of for a fee by visiting Riverside Recycling in Portland, Casella Transfer Station in Westbrook, or Best Buy in South Portland.