Solvents Illegal in Garbage & Drains Hazardous Waste Hazardous Waste Collection Solvents 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 Dump Down the Drain Keep waterways clean by not dumping solvents down the drain. Solvents can threaten human health and poison aquatic life by leaching into lakes and rivers. Keep Away From Heat Most solvents are flammable or highly flammable. Keep them in a cool place away from heat. Handle With Care Solvents are harsh chemicals that can cause bodily harm. When using solvents, avoid breathing in vapors, skin contact, eye contact or ingestion. Ways to Reduce Avoid Known Carcinogens Avoid solvents that contain benzene, carbon tetrachloride or trichloroethylene. Did You Know? What Are Solvents, Anyway? Solvents are substances that can be used to dissolve other compounds. Major uses for solvents include paints, paint removers, nail polish, nail polish removers, inks, spot cleaners, detergents, dry cleaning and perfumes.