Where to Drop Off Hazardous Waste in Denver (2026)
Paint, chemicals, batteries, motor oil, pesticides — these items can’t go in the trash, recycling, or dumpster. Denver-area residents have several options for safe disposal, most of them free.
At Your Door Pickup (Denver Metro)
Denver and most of the south metro don’t operate a walk-in HHW drop-off facility. Instead, they contract Waste Management’s At Your Door program for residential pickup. WM mails you a heavy-duty bag and labels, you fill it with your household chemicals, and they pick it up at your front door on a scheduled day.
- Phone: (800) 449-7587 (Mon–Fri 7 AM–7 PM CST)
- Website: wmatyourdoor.com
- Cost: for Denver residents · for Aurora · for unincorporated Arapahoe County, Centennial, Cherry Hills Village, Greenwood Village
- Eligibility: Residential only (verified at scheduling)
- Inside Denver: You can also dial 311 or 720-913-1311
Accepted items:
- Paint (latex, oil-based, and spray)
- Paint thinner, mineral spirits, solvents, turpentine
- Stain, varnish, polyurethane
- Pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, rodent poison
- Pool chemicals (chlorine, muriatic acid, algaecide)
- Household cleaners (bleach, ammonia, oven cleaner)
- Motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze
- Batteries (all types)
- Fluorescent light bulbs and CFLs
- Mercury thermometers and thermostats
- Small electronics
NOT accepted:
- Ammunition, explosives, or firearms
- Radioactive materials
- Medical or pharmaceutical waste
- Commercial or business waste (residential only)
- Asbestos
- Tires (separate disposal — see below)
- Large appliances (separate disposal)
Walk-In Drop-Off Options
Veolia Recycling Center (Henderson)
If you prefer to drop off in person, Veolia’s Colorado HHW facility accepts most items by appointment:
- Address: 9131 E. 96th Ave, Henderson, CO 80640
- Phone: (303) 526-8155
- Architectural paint: Free (appointment required)
- Other HHW: facility fee plus .66/lb
- Hours: Vary seasonally — check hhwdisposal.com or call before going
PaintCare Drop-Off Sites (Paint Only)
PaintCare provides free, year-round paint recycling at participating retailers:
- Sherwin-Williams (multiple Denver metro locations)
- Select Ace Hardware and True Value stores
- Select Benjamin Moore retailers
Visit paintcare.org to find the nearest location. Limit: 5 gallons per visit. More details in our paint disposal guide.
Other Free Drop-Off Options by Item Type
Batteries
- Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V): Can technically go in regular trash in Colorado, but recycling is better. Drop off at Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Batteries Plus.
- Lithium batteries (laptop, phone, power tool): Do NOT put in trash — fire hazard. Drop off at Best Buy, Home Depot, or Batteries Plus.
- Car batteries: Free drop-off at AutoZone, O’Reilly, NAPA, or any auto parts store (they give you a core credit).
- Button cell batteries: Hazardous waste events or Batteries Plus.
Motor Oil and Automotive Fluids
- AutoZone — Free used motor oil drop-off (up to 5 gallons)
- O’Reilly Auto Parts — Free used motor oil drop-off
- NAPA Auto Parts — Free used oil and filter drop-off
- Jiffy Lube — Some locations accept used oil
Fluorescent Bulbs and CFLs
- Home Depot — Free CFL and fluorescent tube recycling at all locations
- Lowe’s — Free CFL recycling
- Batteries Plus — Accepts fluorescent tubes
Medications
- Denver Police stations — Many have permanent drug drop boxes in the lobby
- Walgreens — Safe medication disposal kiosks at select locations
- CVS — DisposeRx packets available (dissolve meds at home, then trash)
- DEA Take-Back Events — Held twice yearly (April and October)
Propane Tanks
- Blue Rhino exchange — Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, gas stations (trade in any brand)
- AmeriGas exchange — Similar locations
- Small 1-lb cylinders: Schedule pickup via At Your Door at (800) 449-7587, or drop off at Veolia in Henderson
Tires
- Tire shops: Most accept old tires for $3-$10 each when you buy new ones
- Denver hazardous waste events: Sometimes accept tires (check event details)
- Full tire disposal guide
What About Everything Else?
If the hazardous stuff is mixed in with a pile of other junk — old paint cans next to a broken snowblower, dead car batteries beside boxes of who-knows-what — a full garage cleanout is usually the faster move. We separate the hazmat for you and route it to At Your Door, then haul everything else away in the same visit. Pricing from $125 for a small load.
For non-hazardous items — furniture, appliances, electronics, yard waste, construction debris, and general junk — call Junk Same Day at (720) 902-8408 or book online. We take everything except hazmat, same-day, across the Denver metro.
When we do a garage or basement cleanout, we’ll separate out any hazardous items and let you know exactly what needs to go to a drop-off location. You handle the hazmat; we handle everything else.