Household Chemical Collection

Important Notice: The Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex will close at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, for a county employee recognition event.

  • The Household Electronics and Chemical Collection Center (HEC3) will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  • The Swap Shop will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  • The Disposal Complex/Scalehouse will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  • The Administration Building will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Regular business hours will resume on Thursday, April 27, 2023.

Effective October 1, 2022: New Procedure and Program Change

  • Your government-issued ID will be required and scanned to verify residency when using the HEC3, the Swap Shop, and Mobile Collection Events.
  • Collected electronics will no longer be sent to a private recycler; they will be sent to Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility. View the Household Electronic Program Change page to learn more.

The Department of Solid Waste’s HEC3 program diverts Household Hazardous Waste from the municipal solid waste stream for proper recycling and disposal. HEC3 currently collects chemicals through the following programs for free:

This collection program is for Pinellas County households only.
Businesses, hobbyists, haulers, and nonprofits should visit the Business Collection Events page.


What to Bring – Chemicals

What To Bring
Chemicals
  • Automotive Products
    • Oil and Antifreeze (limit: 5 gallons)
  • Gasoline and Diesel (limit: 2 five-gallon DOT containers, no tanks)
  • Household Chemicals
    • Adhesives/Epoxies, Aerosols, Cleaners 
  • Lawn and Garden Chemicals 
    • Pesticides, Herbicides, Fertilizers, Cleaners
  • Mercury-Containing Devices
    • Thermometers, Thermostats, Fluorescent Bulbs (limit: 12) 
  • Paint Products
    • Paints, Stains, Solvents (limit: 20 one-gallon, 5 five-gallon)
  • Pool and Spa Products
    • Chlorine, Muriatic Acid, Cleaners, Clarifiers  
  • Signal Flares
    • Marine, Road
  • Rechargeable Batteries
    • Nickel-Metal Hydride 
    • Nickel Cadmium
    • Small Sealed Lead Acid
    • Lithium Ion
  • Non-Rechargeable, Single-Use Batteries 
    • Lithium
    • Silver Oxide
    • Zinc-Air
    • Zinc-Chloride
    • Mercury
    • Lithium Manganese (LR) Button Batteries
    • Silver Oxide (SR) Button Batteries 
  • Items with rechargeable batteries that cannot be removed

Customers with quantities in excess of the limits above will be referred to the Business Collection Events for service. Loads will be evaluated upon arrival. Visit the Business Collection Events page for more information.

What Not to Bring

What Not To Bring
  • Appliances
    • Microwaves, Toasters, Vacuums, Other Appliances
To find out how to get rid of other electronics and chemicals, use the Where Does it Go? Search Tool.

Visit the Household Electronic Program Change webpage to learn more about the program change. 

How to Package Chemicals

When you are getting ready to drop off your household chemicals at HEC3 or a mobile collection event, please package them as follows to help keep you and our staff safe and to minimize spills:

Do:

  • Place containers in a box or tray and use crumpled newspaper as packing material to prevent breakage.
  • Place leaking containers in a clear, sealed bag; then in a box or tray.
  • Place chemicals in trunk or truck bed, away from passengers.

Do not:

  • Mix chemicals together.
  • Put containers in a bag, unless leaking.

HEC3

Residents are invited to drop off certain household chemical items for free. See the table above for accepted items.

Open Monday through Saturday
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
2855 109th Ave. N., St. Petersburg

Swap Shop

The Swap Shop, which is located at HEC3, is a reuse program for household chemical products, such as paint, cleaners, and automotive fluids. It is free for Pinellas County residents. Availability can change by the minute, and quantities may be limited. Despite the name, there is no need to swap.

Capacity is limited to 3 customers at a time.

Customer utilizing the Swap Shop
Open Monday through Saturday
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Mobile Collection Events and Schedule

Mobile Collection Events are held throughout Pinellas County on select Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Collections may be delayed or canceled due to inclement weather.

Customers must stay in their vehicle. Items must be placed in the trunk, truck bed, or trailer to allow staff safe access.

2023 Countywide Collection Events (subject to change)

Date Facility Location
Mar. 11 Tarpon Springs High School 1411 Gulf Rd.
April 15 Seminole High School 8401 131st St. N.
Sept. 9 St. Pete College/Gibbs Campus 6605 5th Ave. N.
Sept. 30 Largo Recycle Center 1551 Starkey Road

Monthly North County Collection Events

Jan. 28 May 20 July 22 Oct. 14
 
(behind the Pinellas County Government Center, south of Curlew Road)
Feb. 25 June 10 Aug. 12 Oct. 28
Mar. 25 June 24 Aug. 26 Nov. 18
Apr. 29 July 8 Sept. 23 Dec. 9

View the Mobile Collection Experience Videos below.

Mobile Collection Experience

A mobile collection event is an easy and convenient way for residents to discard unwanted household chemicals.

At a mobile collection event, staff will ask for your government-issued ID and about the items you have, then direct you to a drop off area, where staff will collect and separate the items for safe packaging and handling.

What to expect at a mobile collection event:

Additional Resources

Have Questions?

We are happy to help! Call (727) 464-7500, email waste@pinellas.gov or click the Live Chat button below.