Hazardous Materials
SOUTH METRO FIRE RESCUE IS NOT A COLLECTION SITE.
South Metro Fire Rescue and its fire stations do NOT collect fire extinguishers or other household hazardous waste for disposal from citizens. SMFR does not recharge fire extinguishers and recommends contacting the product manufacturer for safe handling and disposal instructions.
What are Hazardous Materials?
Hazardous materials, often called “hazmat,” are substances that can be harmful to people, property, or the environment. These materials may be flammable, explosive, toxic, corrosive, or reactive. They’re found in many places—homes, businesses, and on the road—and include things like fuels, cleaning chemicals, compressed gases, and industrial products. Knowing how to safely store, use, and dispose of hazardous materials helps prevent spills, fires, and exposure incidents, keeping our community and first responders safe.
We use countless items in our daily life that are also considered hazardous materials.
Chemicals and other hazardous materials used in homes can be dangerous. It is important that residents follow the product instructions when using, storing, or disposing of home hazardous waste to prevent illness, unintentional poisoning, or even fires. This page aims to educate our community on what is considered hazardous waste, how to safely use and store it, and proper disposal.
SAFE HANDLING AND STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
1. Keep them out of reach. Keep all hazardous materials securely out of reach of children and pets. Use safety locks or guardrails on storage shelves and cabinets to prevent spills or tipping.
2. Original containers and labels intact. Always read and follow the directions and safety information on product labels. Keep hazardous materials in their original containers with labels intact so you know exactly what is inside.
3. Stay aware even once the product appears empty. Never mix leftover products—combining chemicals can cause dangerous reactions. Remember that even empty containers can be hazardous due to residual chemicals.
4. Store flammable materials safely. Store flammable materials away from sunlight, open flames, and heat sources, and keep them outside of your home whenever possible.
5. Wear protective gear. Wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves and goggles, when handling these products.
Did you know that oily and solvent-wet rags can combust without a heat source?
Make sure oily rags are never kept in a pile.
Once they are done being used, hang them outside to dry in a cool, shady location away from structures. Only after they are completely dried can you discard of them. Visit the NFPA "Oily Rags Safety Tips" sheet for more info.
Follow the following information provided by USFA to Keep Your Family Safe From Household Chemicals.
PROPER DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
Disposing of hazardous materials safely is essential for protecting our health, homes, and environment. When chemicals, fuels, or other dangerous products are thrown away improperly, they can pollute water, soil, and air—or even start fires. By following safe disposal practices and using approved collection programs, we can reduce accidents, prevent contamination, and keep our community safe for everyone.
To find a Medication and Sharps Take-Back Location near you, click below for a list provided by the Colorado Division of Health and Environment: MEDICATION TAKE BACK LOCATIONS
Search for recycling locations by topic and zip code by visiting EARTH911.
Common Household Hazards and Hard-to-Recycle Items
- Household chemicals
- Automotive products
- Consumer electronics
- Paint products
- Batteries
- Garden chemicals
- Flourescent Lightbulbs
- Thermometers
- Flammable Items
- Swimming Pool Chemicals
Household Medications and Pharmaceuticals Disposal
Colorado Medication Take-Back Project
Do not flush medications down the toilet or drain. Flushing even small quantities of household medications can contaminate drinking water supplies.
Follow the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Steps for Medication Disposal:
- Take the medications out of their original containers.
- Mix the medications with something that can't be eaten, such as used coffee grounds or cat litter, to prevent accidental or intentional misuse of medicine by children or animals.
- Put the mixture in a container with a tightly fitting lid or in a plastic zip-top bag or other tightly sealed plastic bag.
- Except for fentanyl or Duragesic pain patches, transdermal patches should be folded onto themselves so they can't be reused before being placed in the sealable container. Fentanyl or Duragesic pain patches should be folded in half, sticky side together, and flushed down the toilet. These patches are dangerous if not flushed immediately after use.
- Remove or destroy all identifying personal information on the empty medicine container labels, including prescription and medical plan numbers.
- You can destroy personal information by covering the information with a black permanent marker and/or by scratching it off.
- Wrap the medication mixture and empty containers in newspaper or a paper bag to help conceal them, then wrap them in a trash bag.
- Store the packaged waste away from children and pets.
- Place the packaged waste in the trash on the day your garbage is collected or taken to the landfill.
Needles and Sharps Disposal
Never put a container of sharps in with your recyclables
- Sharps are not recyclable and not only can they pose an infection risk to workers at the recycling facility, they can render the whole batch of recyclables unusable.
- Used needles and other sharps should never be placed loosely in your trash or flushed down the toilet.
Follow the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Steps for Disposal of Sharps:
- Purchase a commercially available sharps container from a pharmacy or other source, or use a strong plastic or metal container with a screw-on or tightly secured lid to prevent accidental contact with the waste.
- Containers like empty bleach bottles, liquid detergent bottles and heavy plastic jugs are strong enough to prevent the sharps from poking through the container and have lids that can be securely fastened.
- A coffee can may also be used as long as the lid is sealed with strong tape once the container is full.
- Plastic milk containers are a poor choice because they're generally made of thin plastic that can be easily punctured by a needle or lancet.
- Glass should never be used as a sharps container because the glass can break and make the hazard worse.
- Label the container as “Used Sharps” if your household is not using a commercially-available container.
- Once filled, the container should be firmly sealed to prevent accidental tampering.
- Store the sealed sharps container away from children and pets.
- Place the sealed sharps container in your trash on the day it gets picked up or taken to the landfill.
Some counties and municipalities conduct annual collections of household hazardous wastes, while others have permanent collection facilities or sponsor curbside pickup programs.
- Household chemical waste collections are limited to residents of the county or municipality that sponsors the event or facility.
- Proof of residency is usually required.
- There may be a fee to help defray costs of the program.
- Call ahead to determine acceptable wastes and to confirm the date and time.
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Waste Management Information by County (None Arapahoe Specific)
Douglas County Household Wate Management
Waste Management Information by County (None Jefferson Specific)
VIEW SOUTH METRO'S HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FAQ'S FLYER BELOW:
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