End of HHW Season? How to Safely Store Household Hazardous Waste This Fall and Winter on Cape Cod
With Cape Cod Cooperative Extension’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection season wrapping up, it’s more important than ever to know how to store those hazardous products safely during the off-season.
Many residents don’t realize how easy it is for items like oil-based paints, cleaners, and pesticides to become dangerous if not handled properly—especially during Cape Cod’s unpredictable fall and winter storms. Improperly stored chemicals can leak, react, or even explode in extreme weather, putting your family, pets, and neighborhood at risk.
Here’s how you can stay safe:
- Store Hazardous Materials Safely: Keep toxic chemicals in sturdy plastic bins, stored above flood levels (but not above eye level). Make sure everything is out of reach from curious kids and pets.
- Storm-Ready Prep: Cape Cod’s fall and winter storms can be unpredictable. Be ready by taking stock of where your hazardous items are stored and ensure everything is in flame-retardant containers.
Missed Your Collection? No Problem!
If you missed this year’s HHW collection events, don’t worry—you still have safe disposal options during the off-season. Our new HHW Off-Season Flyer outlines multiple ways to manage and dispose of your hazardous waste responsibly, including:
- Holding onto chemicals until next season, while ensuring they’re stored safely.
- Visiting a fixed facility or public hazardous waste collection, both of which may involve a fee.
- Hiring a chemical disposal company—just make sure they have a legal disposal plan.
Download the HHW Off-Season Flyer here for full details on how to safely manage hazardous waste in the months ahead.
Extension is Here to Help! Our job is to make sure Cape Cod’s drinking water stays clean and your family stays safe. While HHW collection events are over until spring, we’re still here with solutions. Reach out to Kalliope Chute, Extension’s Hazardous Materials Environmental Specialist at 508-375-6699 or kalliope@capecod.gov, or visit our Household Hazardous Waste webpage at www.loveyourlocalwater.org for resources. We care about your family’s safety, and together, we can help keep hazardous waste out of our environment.
Take a moment to look around your home for hazardous products and note where they’re stored. This simple step could save lives in an emergency.
The purpose of this infographic is to give the public ways to prepare their homes for a hurricane by looking for items that can cause household hazardous waste (HHW).
Managing Household Hazardous Waste to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane (pdf) (113.3 KB)
