Drop off your household toxins at these free sites | What's the Deal

INDIANAPOLIS — Insect repellent and backyard bug control are some of the things Kathleen Doxsie wants to toss.

"It takes up space, and we're not using it," Doxsie said. 

And she knows that type of stuff should not go in the regular trash.

"I said, there's got to be a responsible way to get rid of it," Doxsie said.

So, she planned to take the items to a county Tox Drop.

In Marion County, they are held three Saturdays a month, each in a different location:

• First Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Traders Point Collection Facility
  • 7550 N. Lafayette Road
• Second Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Perry Township Government Center
  • 4925 S. Shelby St.
• Third Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Training Facility
  • 9049 E. 10th St.

Locations can get quite busy when they first open. 

Corey Ohlenkamp, with Indianapolis Department of Public Works, said sites average about 400 cars a weekend.

Events like these, he added, are important for public health. 

Throwing toxins into the regular trash or in the yard can cause issues. 

"When you've got things like old paint, corrosive material, acids, oils, all those things can end up in our storm water system," Ohlenkamp said. "Then, they all end up in the river at some point. That's something we don't want to see."

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Some of the things that can be brought to Tox Drops include:

• AA and AAA batteries
• Adhesives
• Aerosol cans
• Air fresheners
• Ammonia
• Bathroom cleaners
• Brake fluid
• Carpet cleaners
• Chlorine bleach
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Detergents
• Electronics (find a list of acceptable electronics here)
• Fertilizer
• Fire extinguishers
• Floor wax
• Fluorescent light tubes
• Furniture polish
• Gasoline
• Glue
• Herbicides
• Insecticides
• Lead acid batteries
• LED bulbs
• Lighter fluid
• Elemental mercury
• Moth crystals
• Nail polish & nail polish remover
• Oven cleaner
• Paint
• Paint stripper
• Paint thinner
• Pesticides
• Pool chemicals
• Propane tanks (less than 20 lbs)
• Rock salt
• Stain removers
• Thermostats
• Thermometers
• Used cooking oil
• Used motor oil
• Wood stains
• Wood varnishes

Tox Drop events do not accept medications. They also do not accept waste from businesses.

"One common trip-up that we usually see is folks bring things in trash bags. We can't see what materials are in there," Ohlenkamp said. 

So, they ask you put items in boxes to keep workers safe and to keep the line moving.

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