If you have leftover paint, motor oil, old pesticides, a box of dead batteries, or a busted TV sitting in your garage, you cannot legally toss most of it in your regular trash cart in the Denver metro. These items are “household hazardous waste” (HHW), and Colorado law plus local landfill rules require them to be dropped off or picked up through dedicated programs. The good news: every metro county has a real, official option, and many accept paint, motor oil, and car batteries for free. This guide names each verified program county-by-county so you know exactly where your chemicals can go.
What counts as household hazardous waste?
Household hazardous waste is any leftover household product that is flammable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive. If a label says “Danger,” “Warning,” “Caution,” “Flammable,” or “Poison,” treat it as HHW and keep it out of your trash and storm drains.
Common HHW includes:
- Oil-based and latex paint, stains, varnish, and thinners
- Motor oil, antifreeze, and other automotive fluids
- Car and rechargeable batteries
- Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers
- Pool and spa chemicals
- Household cleaners, solvents, and drain openers
- Aerosol cans and compressed gas cylinders (including propane)
- Fluorescent tubes and CFL bulbs (contain mercury)
- Electronics (which are banned from Colorado landfills)
What is not HHW: empty/dried-out paint cans, regular household trash, most alkaline batteries (still best to recycle), and non-hazardous bulky junk like furniture, mattresses, and appliances. Ammunition, explosives, medications, and medical/biohazard waste are handled through separate channels, not standard HHW programs.
Where can I dispose of household hazardous waste in the Denver metro?
The short answer: use your county’s HHW program. Some counties (Jefferson, Adams, Boulder) run drop-off facilities, while others (Denver, Arapahoe, Douglas) use an at-your-door pickup service. Here is the verified breakdown for each metro county.
| County | Official program | How it works | Notable free items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | Denver HHW / At-Your-Door + paint & battery drop-off | At-your-door pickup at low cost; call 311 | Paint recycling |
| Jefferson | Rooney Road Recycling Center (Golden) | Drop-off, appointment only (Wed & Sat) | Paint, motor oil, auto batteries |
| Arapahoe | SEMSWA “At Your Door” via Waste Management | Curbside pickup, by appointment | Varies by material |
| Adams | HHW Drop-Off Voucher → Veolia (Henderson) | Request voucher, then book drop-off | Architectural paint |
| Douglas | Douglas County HHW via Waste Management | Curbside pickup, one appt/year | Free electronics (PedalPoint) |
| Boulder | Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF) | Drop-off, no appointment for residents | Free for residents |
Denver (City & County of Denver)
Denver operates a Household Hazardous Waste program that lets residents remove common hazardous waste safely at little or no cost. The city offers an “At-Your-Door” collection option plus free paint recycling and battery drop-off. Because signup steps and current pricing change, call 311 (or 720-913-1311) or visit the Denver Household Hazardous Waste page for the latest details.
Jefferson County — Rooney Road Recycling Center
Jefferson County residents use the Rooney Road Recycling Center in Golden, which the center describes as serving over 575,000 front-range residents. It is open by appointment only, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and residents book online. Paint, motor oil, and automobile batteries are recycled for free; most other hazardous chemicals carry a modest subsidized co-pay for Jefferson County residents. Confirm current hours, the fee schedule, and what’s accepted at rooneyroadrecycling.org.
Arapahoe County — SEMSWA “At Your Door” collection
Arapahoe County residents can use the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA) “At Your Door Special Collection” service, run under contract with Waste Management. It serves unincorporated Arapahoe County plus Aurora, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, and Greenwood Village. Residents call 1-800-449-7587 to schedule; accepted items include automotive products, batteries, garden and pool chemicals, paint, household chemicals, electronics, and mercury items. Some cities — including Englewood, Littleton, Sheridan, and Columbine Valley — run their own separate HHW programs, so check your city’s website. See the county’s Trash and Recycling Resources page.
Adams County — HHW Drop-Off Voucher & Veolia (Henderson)
Adams County offers a Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Voucher Program for disposal at the Veolia Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Center at 9131 E. 96th Ave. in Henderson. Eligible residents (unincorporated Adams County, Bennett, and Northglenn per the county) receive one voucher per household that covers the facility fee. You request the voucher online, receive it by email, then schedule a drop-off appointment through Veolia. Thornton and Commerce City residents should check with their own cities. Details are on the Adams County Recycling & Waste Diversion page.
Douglas County — year-round curbside via Waste Management
Instead of a once-a-year event, Douglas County partners with Waste Management for year-round household hazardous waste pickup. Residents are eligible for one collection appointment per calendar year with a $30 co-payment. Schedule at Waste Management’s site or by calling 1-800-449-7587. Separately, Douglas County residents can recycle electronics for free year-round through PedalPoint Lifecycle Solutions with proof of residency. See the Douglas County Household Waste Management page.
Boulder County — Hazardous Materials Management Facility (HMMF)
If you’re in Boulder County (or metro-adjacent Broomfield), the Hazardous Materials Management Facility at 1901 63rd St. in Boulder accepts household hazardous waste free of charge, with voluntary donations welcomed. Appointments are not required for residents to drop off, and it’s open Wednesday through Saturday. It serves Boulder and Broomfield County residents and the Town of Erie. See the Boulder County HMMF page.
Where can I dispose of paint in the Denver metro?
The easiest way to dispose of leftover paint anywhere in Colorado is through PaintCare, and it’s free. PaintCare is a nonprofit paint-stewardship program funded by a fee on new paint sales, with hundreds of year-round drop-off sites statewide — many at local paint and hardware stores. It accepts architectural coatings such as house paint, primers, stains, sealers, and clear coatings like varnish and shellac. It does not take aerosol spray paint, or leaking, unlabeled, or empty containers. Most sites accept a limited number of gallons per visit, so confirm your site’s limit first. Find the nearest location using the locator at paintcare.org/drop-off-sites.
How do I recycle electronics in Colorado?
You can’t throw electronics in the trash in Colorado — it’s the law. Under the Colorado Electronic Recycling Jobs Act (SB 12-133), landfilling electronic devices has been prohibited since July 1, 2013. Covered devices include TVs, computers, monitors, laptops, tablets, printers, DVD players, VCRs, radios, and video game consoles. Recycle them through your county HHW program (Douglas County even offers it free via PedalPoint), a certified e-waste recycler, or retailers like Best Buy that accept certain electronics. For local options, see our guide on where to recycle electronics in Denver.
What about batteries, propane, and light bulbs?
Car batteries, rechargeable batteries, propane cylinders, and fluorescent/CFL bulbs are all HHW and should go to your county program above. Many auto parts stores accept lead-acid car batteries for recycling, and county facilities like Rooney Road and Boulder’s HMMF accept batteries, bulbs, and small propane cylinders. Never place these in your curbside recycling or trash — bulbs contain mercury and batteries can spark fires in collection trucks.
Does Junk Same Day haul hazardous waste?
To be upfront: no. Junk Same Day does not haul household hazardous materials — no paint, chemicals, motor oil, or full propane tanks — because those require the licensed county programs described above. What we do handle is the non-hazardous bulky stuff that clutters garages, basements, and estates: furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronics for responsible recycling, yard debris, construction debris, and full-property cleanouts. We’re a family-owned Denver-metro junk removal company with 4.8 stars across 146+ reviews, we offer same-day service, and we recycle or donate 70%+ of what we haul. If you’re clearing out a home and hit a mix of junk and chemicals, we’re happy to point you to the right HHW program and take everything else off your hands. Call (720) 902-8408 for a fast quote, or see everything we handle on our Denver junk removal page.
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