How to Dispose of Items that Shouldn't be Placed in the Trash

Last updated 11 months ago

Your trash can is not the best place for all of your waste, but even if your items aren’t suited for normal trash service, you still need to get them out of your home. Here are some common items you may be struggling to dispose of and how to get rid of them once and for all:

Hazardous Materials

Any item that is flammable, combustible, poison, or toxic is considered to be hazardous waste and can’t be collected through a normal trash service. If you’re unsure if your item is hazardous, check the container for any wording that suggests the product could be poisonous or could explode. Instead of putting hazardous materials into your regular trash bins, take them to your county’s household hazards waste facility. In Boulder County, the Hazardous Materials Management Facility serves residents in Boulder, Broomfield City and County, and the Town of Erie.

Cooking Oil

In its liquid form, cooking oil should not be put in the trash, but solidified oil can be included in your normal trash collection. If the oil naturally solidifies, you can dispose of it that way. Adding cat litter to oil that doesn’t naturally solidify will turn it into a solid you can put in the trash. Cooking oil can also be composted.

Motor Oil

Dirty motor oil has no place in the trash can. Instead, wait for the oil to cool, and pour it into empty gallon containers from other household items, such as empty milk containers. Take the oil to a gas station that has an oil recycling service. Some oil changing companies also offer oil recycling services. There may be a small fee for the recycling.

At Boulder, Colorado’s Western Disposal Services, we’re here to make trash day easy. Call us anytime if you’re unsure about how to dispose of an item. You can also inquire about our residential and commercial trash and recycling services. Dial (303) 586-1100 today to see how we can help you with your trash service.