Photo Chemicals Illegal in Garbage & Drains Hazardous Waste Hazardous Waste Collection Photo 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). Fixer and Toners Are Hazardous Waste Used fixer and toners contain heavy metals (such as silver, gold and selenium) and should be disposed of as hazardous waste. Developer, Stop and Hypo Clear Unused and spent photographic developers and negative plate processing chemicals are generally not considered hazardous. They are safe to pour down the drain, but only on a sewer system. Do so in small quantities in order to avoid chemical reactions. Don't Dispose of in Septic System Do not dispose of photographic chemicals in a septic system. A septic system is an underground tank where waste is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria, essentially a smaller private sewer system. Only dispose of these chemicals on a sewer system, which sends wastewater through a treatment plant. Did You Know? A Literally Green Method for Printing Photographs Anthotypes is a green photography processing method that makes prints from flower petals, fruit peels and plant pigments. Find out how to make anthotypes.