Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Saturday, August 21

The City of Cambridge will hold its next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Day for 2021 on Saturday, August 21, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at 65 Waverly Street. To access the event, please enter from Brookline Street, as eastbound travel will be prohibited on Henry, Chestnut and Putnam streets, from Sidney Street to Waverly Street. Additional HHW collection dates in 2021 include October 30.

To streamline the collection process, residents should remain in their vehicle and follow the directions from the staff. Items will be removed from trunks only and residents should leave any items they do not wish to dispose of at home.

Residents are urged to review the acceptable items below in advance.
Accepted items include:
• Batteries: Vehicle & Non-Alkaline
• Car Fluids: Antifreeze, Brake, Engine Degreaser, Transmission
• Car Tires (max four per household)
• Chemicals: Cleaners, Glues, Removers, Photography & Swimming Pool
• Fluorescent Light Bulbs
• Mercury Items: Thermometers & Thermostats
• Paints: Oil-Based & Latex
• Poisons: Insecticides, Pesticides & Weed Killers
• Prescription Medicines (also accepted year-round at Cambridge Police Dept. 125 Sixth St.)
• Propane Cylinders (20 lbs. or less only)
• Waste Fuels: Antifreeze, Gasoline, Kerosene, Sterno & Motor Oil
• Fire Extinguishers

Items not accepted include:
• NO Alkaline Batteries
• NO Ammunition, Fireworks & Explosives (contact Cambridge Fire Dept. at 617-349-3300)
• NO Asbestos (requires proper disposal)
• NO Bleach or Ammonia
• NO Commercial/Industrial Waste
• NO Construction Debris
• NO Empty Aerosol Cans
• NO Compressed Gas Cylinders
• NO Infectious or Biological Waste
• NO Radioactive Waste
• NO Smoke Detectors
• NO Syringes (contact Cambridge Public Health Dept. at 617-665-3848)

The Cambridge Recycling Center located at 147 Hampshire Street accepts many of the above items not accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Day. Hours of operation for the Recycling Center are Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Learn more at Cambridgema.gov/hazardouswaste.