Julie Clopper / Shutterstock.com Garden Chemicals Illegal in Garbage & Drains Hazardous Waste Julie Clopper / Shutterstock.com Hazardous Waste Collection Garden chemicals need special handling to avoid toxic exposure for waste workers, the community, and the environment. City Specific Disposal OptionsPlease check with your city page (residential or commercial) to confirm if additional options are available, such as home collection, drop-off locations, and/or events. (These options vary per city.) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-OffYour city or county may offer HHW drop-off sites and collection events.– Los Angeles County: S.A.F.E. Collection Centers and events– Riverside County– San Bernardino County– Ventura County Disposal Options For BusinessesHazardous waste cannot be placed in your containers. Schedule a Special Waste Collection by emailing [email protected] or calling Athens’ Customer Service Department at 888-336-6100. Fees may apply. Some HHW drop-off centers may allow drop off by small business generators (check links above). Never Pour Down the Drain Garden chemicals, such as weed killer and fertilizer, can never be dumped down storm drains, home drains or tossed in the garbage. Regular drains are not equipped to handle these chemicals, and they will leach into the environment. Don't Water Grass After Using Do not water grass after applying garden chemicals. Not only will the runoff end up in local waterways, it also ruins the effectiveness of your pesticides. Don't Use if It's Going to Rain Avoid using chemicals before a storm. If you do, rain will wash them down storm drains and into local waterways. Ways to Reduce Avoid Purchasing Concentrates Consider purchasing ready-to-use products. Purchasing concentrations to dilute on your own can expose the body to harmful chemicals. Also the use of under-diluted chemicals is more damaging to the air, water and soil. Buy What You Need Reduce the impact of garden chemicals on the environment by buying only what you need. Give away any unwanted or leftover products, which saves you the hassle of disposing of them as hazardous waste.