Delaware household hazardous waste drop-off
Pick your county to see its drop-off sites, collection events and home pickup. Check who can use each program, and call before you go.
Delaware counties
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Counties in gray have no current listing yet: call the county for local options.
Delaware metro areas
Upcoming collection events in Delaware
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 · Newark, New Castle CountyWho can attend: Delaware residents
No upcoming collection events are listed right now. Your county page lists permanent drop-off sites and home pickup.
Soonest first. Events usually serve only residents of the city or county that runs them, and many need an appointment. Events with addresses and phone numbers →
About Delaware programs
In Delaware, one agency handles household hazardous waste for the whole state: the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA). It runs a weekly drop-off day at four of its facilities, at least one in each county, and Saturday collection events around the state. Both are free for Delaware residents, and you can use any site, whatever county you live in.
DSWA serves all three counties. Delaware residents can use any DSWA drop-off site or collection event.
State rules and programs
- Agency: the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) runs household hazardous waste collection for the whole state. Delaware counties do not run their own programs.
- Free for residents: DSWA drop-off days and collection events are free for Delaware residents. Any Delaware resident can use any site.
- Weekly drop-off days: each DSWA drop-off site takes household hazardous waste one day a week: Saturdays in New Castle, Wednesdays in Newark, Fridays in Cheswold and Mondays in Georgetown.
- Explosives: ammunition, gunpowder and fireworks are taken only at the Saturday collection events, not on the weekly drop-off days.
- Latex paint: DSWA drop-off sites take latex paint on one day a month, the last weekly drop-off day of the month at each site.
- Paint: Delaware has no PaintCare paint stewardship program. See the paint guide.
Batteries in Delaware
The law: Delaware has no state law on household batteries, and no law that bans car batteries from the trash or requires stores to take them back. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) says households can take batteries to Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) collections, and car batteries can go back to the store that sold them, which passes them on to a recycler. Neither DNREC nor DSWA says whether alkaline batteries may go in the trash; DSWA takes them for recycling.
Stewardship program: No battery stewardship program. DSWA works with The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle) on free drop-off points that take both rechargeable and single-use batteries.
Where to take them: 5 Delaware programs we list accept batteries; their lists name car batteries only. For household batteries, the recycling drop-off centers at DSWA transfer stations take common batteries such as AA, AAA, C, D and button batteries, and DSWA lists more battery drop-off points on its website. Programs that list batteries include DSWA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (Delaware Recycling Center), DSWA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (Cheswold Collection Station) and DSWA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (Jones Crossroads Landfill). Pick your county above for every program.
Which batteries can go in the trash, how to tape and bag them, and other states’ rules: How to dispose of batteries.
Sources (checked Sat, Oct 24, 2026): DNREC: Managing common household wastes, DSWA: Batteries, DSWA: Transfer stations, EPA: Lead-acid battery collection case study, The Battery Network: State recycling laws.
Motor oil and car fluids in Delaware
The law: Used oil from households is exempt from Delaware’s used oil regulations, but it may not be put on the ground or into water, or used to keep down dust, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) says. A drained oil filter with no oil left flowing out is no longer treated as used oil. We found no Delaware law requiring stores to take used oil back or post signs.
Collection program: The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) takes used motor oil and oil filters from households at certain recycling drop-off centers, as long as the oil is not mixed with gasoline or anything else. Hydraulic oil and diesel can go in the same container. DSWA does not take oil from businesses at these centers.
Antifreeze: DSWA takes antifreeze, gasoline and oil mixed with other fuels at its household hazardous waste collections. Call DSWA at 1-800-404-7080 for times and places.
Where to take it: 5 Delaware collections we list take antifreeze. For clean used oil and filters, use a DSWA drop-off center that takes oil; check DSWA’s list first. Programs that list motor oil or antifreeze include DSWA Household Hazardous Waste Collection (Delaware Recycling Center). Pick your county above for every program.
How to pack used oil and filters, what to do with antifreeze, brake fluid and gasoline, and other states’ rules: How to dispose of used motor oil and car fluids.
Sources (checked Sun, Oct 25, 2026): DNREC: Used oil, DSWA: Oil and oil filters, DSWA: Household hazardous waste.
FAQ
Is household hazardous waste disposal free in Delaware?
Yes. DSWA’s weekly drop-off days and Saturday collection events are free for Delaware residents.
Can I use a site in another Delaware county?
Yes. DSWA runs one statewide program, so any Delaware resident can use any of its drop-off sites or collection events.
What does DSWA not take?
Prescription medicines, asbestos, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, radioactive waste, unknown substances and containers with less than an inch of material left. Ammunition, gunpowder and fireworks go only to the Saturday collection events.