How Do I Dispose of Household Chemicals?

Most household chemical waste can be brought to Lee County's Topaz Court Solid Waste Annex at 6441 Topaz Court in Fort Myers.

Accepted materials include:

  • Ammunition & Fireworks
  • Antifreeze
  • Auto/Boat/Motorcycle lead/acid batteries
  • Batteries such as: alkaline batteries AA, AAA, C, D, 9 volt, button batteries for watches and hearing aides, nickel-cadmium and lithium-ion batteries found in cordless phones, rechargeable batteries like those found in cordless drills
  • Cell Phones (these can also be returned to your cell phone provider)
  • Cleaners
  • Fluorescent Bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs The EPA offers good information about how to safely clean up broken fluorescent bulbs.          
  • Fertilizers
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Fluorescent Bulb ballast (fixture)
  • GasolineTopaz Court Solid Waste Annex or Fort Myers Yacht Basin, 1300 Lee St., Fort Myers, FL 33901; 239-321-7080
  • Lawn and Garden Chemicals 
  • Medication - Keep medicines in original container. Mark out your name and prescription number.
    The Sheriff's office offers a Prescription Drug collection program. Contact the Sheriff's Office Headquarters
    at 14750 Ben C. Pratt Six-Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912; 239-477-1000.
    You can also dispose of pills by adding some water or soda to start dissolving them. For liquids, add something inedible like cat litter, dirt or cayenne pepper. Close lid and secure with duct tape or packaging tape. Place bottles in an opaque container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle. Tape that container closed. Hide container in the trash. Do not put in recycle bin.
  • Motor Oil - Topaz Court Solid Waste Annex or in limited amounts at Advanced/Discount Auto Parts, Auto Zone or Walmart
  • Paints and Paint Thinner 
    (NOTE: EMPTY paint cans can be disposed of with your regular household garbage. EMPTY spray cans can be placed in your recycle bin.)
  • Pesticides 
  • Propane Tanks - both the larger 20 lb. tanks used for grilling and the smaller one lb. canisters used for cook stoves.
  • Solvents

​Separating your chemicals by type (corrosive, toxic, flammable, etc.) and placing in a cardboard box will ensure safe transportation and expedite your drop-off time.