Where do Fertiliser, lawn feed and pool chemicals go?
Concentrated fertiliser reaching a stream causes the same algal bloom it causes on a lawn, on a much less welcome scale. Pool chemicals add a reactivity problem: chlorine donors are oxidisers, and mixing them with acid, with ammonia-based cleaners or even with each other generates chlorine gas. Keep containers separate and sealed, and take them to a household hazardous waste collection rather than trying to neutralise anything at home. Unopened and usable product is better offered to a neighbour or a gardening group than disposed of at all. Hazardous waste acceptance is set locally, so check what your area takes rather than turning up with a boot full of it.
How to prepare it
- Keep products in their original containers and do not combine them.
- Offer unopened, in-date product to someone who will use it.
What not to do
- Never mix pool chemicals together or with cleaners — chlorine gas is produced immediately.
- Never wash fertiliser concentrate into a drain or a stream.
Kerbside collection rules genuinely vary by council and county, and local rules always win over general guidance. The reasoning above is what transfers — if your service differs, it will usually be for a reason described here.
Other things that go to hazardous waste collection
- Paint thinner, white spirit and turpentine Hazardous waste collection. Flammable, and lethal to a septic tank or a river.
- Pesticides, weedkiller and insecticide Hazardous waste collection, in the original container with the label intact.
- Asbestos Do not break it, do not drill it, do not sweep it. It needs a licensed route, and most household waste centres take it only by prior arrangement.
- Old petrol and diesel Hazardous waste collection. Stale fuel is still fully flammable.
- Bleach, drain cleaner and household chemicals Use them up as directed if you can. Anything left over goes to hazardous waste, in its own container.
- Mercury thermometers and thermostats Hazardous waste. Never in a bin, and never vacuum a spill.
- Antifreeze and screenwash Hazardous waste. Ethylene glycol tastes sweet and kills cats, dogs and children.
Common questions
- Where do Fertiliser, lawn feed and pool chemicals go?
- Hazardous waste. Oxidisers and concentrated fertiliser are reactive, not just polluting.
- What happens if you put Fertiliser, lawn feed and pool chemicals in the wrong bin?
- Never mix pool chemicals together or with cleaners — chlorine gas is produced immediately. Never wash fertiliser concentrate into a drain or a stream.
Related pages
- Where do Paint thinner, white spirit and turpentine go? Hazardous waste collection. Flammable, and lethal to a septic tank or a river.
- Where do Pesticides, weedkiller and insecticide go? Hazardous waste collection, in the original container with the label intact.
- Where do Asbestos go? Do not break it, do not drill it, do not sweep it. It needs a licensed route, and most household waste centres take it only by prior arrangement.
- Where do Old petrol and diesel go? Hazardous waste collection. Stale fuel is still fully flammable.
- Where do Bleach, drain cleaner and household chemicals go? Use them up as directed if you can. Anything left over goes to hazardous waste, in its own container.
- Where do Mercury thermometers and thermostats go? Hazardous waste. Never in a bin, and never vacuum a spill.
- Where do Household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V) go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
- Where do Lithium-ion batteries go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
- Where do Vapes and disposable e-cigarettes go? Shop or manufacturer take-back
- Where do Medicines and tablets go? Pharmacy
- Where do Pizza boxes go? Kerbside recycling bin
- Where do Leftover wet paint go? Household waste recycling centre
Sources
- US Environmental Protection Agency — EPA (Public domain (US Government))