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Waste and compost · Build the waste infrastructure · waste-12

Build a hazardous waste locker

Batteries, oils, solvents, paints and chemicals need a safe holding place until the next drop-off trip. Mixing or spilling them causes fires, poisoning and soil or water pollution.

How

  1. Use a lockable, ventilated, dry cabinet or shed away from wells, streams and living spaces, with a spill tray under it.
  2. Keep products in their original labelled containers. Never store them in food containers.
  3. Never mix leftover products: incompatible chemicals can react, ignite or explode.
  4. Keep a separate bin for used lithium-ion batteries: tape the terminals with electrical tape and bag each battery or device separately.
  5. Store used oil in a sealed, labelled container.
  6. Keep it locked and out of reach of children and pets.

Safety: Treat damaged, swollen or hot lithium batteries as a fire risk; contact the manufacturer for handling advice.

Do these first

Sources

  1. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). US Environmental Protection Agency (archived snapshot), accessed 2026-11
  2. Used Lithium-Ion Batteries. US Environmental Protection Agency, accessed 2026-11

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