Gwinnett County’s First Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Set for February 11

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and the Department of Water Resources to host an environmentally focused community event — Volunteers needed!

In February, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B), with its partners at Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (DWR), will provide a free opportunity for its neighbors throughout the county to drop off household hazardous waste for recycling or proper disposal.

The first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day of 2023 will take place Saturday, February 11 at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

As a result of the biannual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days in 2022, 1,422 Gwinnettians decluttered their homes while diverting 161,874 pounds of hazardous materials from local landfills. A bigger turnout is predicted for this year.

Looking for volunteers

“To help ensure a smooth event, we’re seeking an additional 50 volunteers,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for GC&B. “We only have a four-hour window to collect materials from hundreds of cars, so this is a ‘the more, the merrier’ scenario.”

She added that it’s a great opportunity to spend some time outdoors, meet other people who have a heart for the environment, fulfill volunteer hours for school and club commitments, and do something good for the community.

“Volunteers will help direct traffic, be assigned a station to help haul materials from vehicles, break down boxes, and more. It’s easy but rewarding work,” she said.

Marlatt explained that when people throw household hazardous materials in the trash, it winds up in the landfill and could leech into the soil, contaminating groundwater and the environment. The dangerous combination of some of those materials during the disposal process could even lead to a chemical reaction resulting in a fire or explosion.

“It might not seem like it at the moment when our volunteers are collecting items from the trunks and backseats of our attendees’ cars, but we’re saving the planet — one pesticide, paint can, and propane cylinder at a time!” she said.

To sign on as a volunteer for this and future events, Marlatt encourages interested individuals and groups to visit Volunteer Gwinnett.

Hazardous Waste Collection Day info

Attendees are permitted to bring up to five containers of household waste. Containers must be the size of a copy paper box or laundry basket, and — since they cannot be returned once removed from the car — disposable containers are recommended.

Acceptable items for collection include:

• Aerosol/spray pesticides
• Automotive products (engine degreaser, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)
• Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids, and bases
• Aerosol/spray paint
• Auto batteries
• Batteries (household and rechargeable)
• Chlorinated solvents
• Cooking oil and grease
• Fire extinguishers
• Flammables (lighter fluid and waste fuels (kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)
• Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts
• Insecticides
• Latex and water-based paints
• Lawn care products
• Mercury
• Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers
• Oil-based paint and stains
• Oxidizers
• Pesticides
• Poisons
• Propane cylinders
• Solvents and varnishes
• Thermostats and other mercury-containing items
• Thinners and paint strippers
• Weed killer
• Wood preservatives

“While we traditionally collect items like tires, electronics, and paper for shredding at other annual recycling events like Earth Day and America Recycles Day, we will not have the capacity to accept those items at our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day,” added Marlatt.

She suggested that attendees plan to bring their tires, and electronic and paper items to GC&B’s Earth Day Recycling Event at Coolray Field on April 22.

Items that will NOT be collected during the Feb. 11 event include:

• Ammunition
• Radioactive waste
• Pharmaceuticals, and
• Biomedical/biohazard waste.

Gwinnett County Fairgrounds is located at 2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy. in Lawrenceville. Volunteers are asked to report at 8 a.m. on the day of the event.

Questions about February’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day can be directed to Program Coordinator, Stephanie Marquardt at 770-822-5187 or gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org.