Establish Collection Program

Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Management

The Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101 - Section 1512) as amended by Act 190 of 1996 (The Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Act of 1996), authorizes programs to collect and manage HHW, provided they are registered with DEP. Most ongoing programs collect HHW once a year at one or more drop-off sites (one-day programs). Others offer such services on an ongoing basis (permanent programs).

Establishing a HHW Collection Program

Municipalities, corporations, public utilities, trade associations, and persons are authorized to sponsor collection programs for HHW and similar wastes from eligible entities. Eligible entities include households, political subdivisions, and small businesses. The sponsor must register the program, in advance, with the Department. It is generally recommended that a sponsor start planning the activity at least nine months in advance.

The wastes, once collected and accumulated from the various participating entities, must, where appropriate, be managed as hazardous wastes. Therefore, time must be allowed to obtain the services of a registered hazardous waste management firm to operate the collection event. For more information, contact the HHW staff member in your region or Central Office Recycling Program at 717-787-7382.

Applications must be submitted through the Department of Community and Economic Development's (DCED) Electronic Single Application website. Paper and faxed copies will not be accepted.
Instructions for completing the on-line application (PDF).
For questions regarding how to complete the on-line application, please call the DCED Customer Service Center at 1-800-379-7448. They are open 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM EST Monday through Friday.
If you have technical questions relating to the HHW program in general, please contact Central Office Recycling Program: ep, Recycle Grants or 717-787-7382.
Registration Forms and Instructions (eLibrary) (2520-FM-BWM0214)

Costs & Funding Options: HHW Grants

Cost has been a major deterrent to program development. Wastes earmarked for incineration or disposal must be transported to out-of-state hazardous waste facilities at great expense. Sponsors use various funding mechanisms to finance HHW programs. One option for municipalities hosting municipal waste landfills or resource recovery facilities is to fund programs with the host municipality fee, required by Act 101. Chapter 13 specifies a minimum of $1 per ton of waste received but provides latitude to negotiate with the facility for a higher fee.

Act 190 of 1996, (The Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Act) will provide 80 percent grants to counties to develop and implement pollution prevention education programs for households and small businesses, even if conducted in the absence of a collection program. It also expands the ability of the department to offer 50 percent reimbursement collection program grants to municipalities and non-profits. The department is authorized to appropriate up to $2 million annually from the Act 108 Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act account and the Act 101 Recycling Fund account to carry out the bill's mandates. HHW Information Packet

The DEP has assembled all of the information and forms (including program registration and grants funding) you will need to establish and operate a household hazardous waste (HHW) Collection Program. For more information, contact the HHW staff member in your region or Central Office Recycling Program at 717-787-7382.

Small Businesses Participation

Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) of hazardous waste may participate in registered HHW Collection Programs, on the same basis as households. VSQGs are businesses that generate less than 100 kg (220 lbs.) of total hazardous wastes each month.