The 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Schedule is Now Available
The Lake County Solid Waste Management District is happy to announce the release of our 2026 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Schedule!
After another year of strong community participation in 2025, we’re proud to continue offering these free, convenient events to help Lake County residents safely dispose of hazardous materials from their homes.
Household Hazardous Waste Collections are designed to give residents a responsible way to dispose of items that should never go in the trash or down the drain. These events help protect our environment, our waterways, and our neighborhoods — and they make it easier for everyone to do the right thing.
Each year, we see thousands of residents take advantage of these events, and we’re grateful for the continued commitment our community shows toward safe disposal and environmental stewardship. We’re excited to build on that momentum in 2026 and keep working together to reduce the impact of hazardous materials in Lake County.
What makes these events especially helpful?
In addition to a wide range of accepted household chemicals and materials, our collections provide rare disposal options for items that are otherwise difficult to get rid of, including:
- Sharps (medical needles) – accepted in a rigid container
- Household batteries – a common item with very limited local disposal options
These services are completely free and open to all Lake County, Indiana residents, and all materials are handled in compliance with environmental regulations to ensure proper disposal or recycling.
Paper Shredding at Every Event
Every 2026 HHW Collection will also include on-site paper shredding, with a limit of four paper grocery bags per vehicle. This is a great opportunity to safely destroy sensitive documents while you’re already out taking care of household cleanouts.
Important Note About Latex Paint
One of the most common questions we receive is about paint. While oil-based paint is accepted at HHW events, latex paint is NOT accepted, as it is not considered hazardous waste.
However, we do offer a separate Latex Paint Recycling Event each November, and we also provide guidance on how residents can safely dry and dispose of latex paint at home. For details on that program and proper disposal instructions, please visit our HHW page.
The full 2026 schedule, accepted items, and event details can be found on our website. We encourage residents to review the schedule in advance, plan their visits, and share the information with friends and neighbors.
Thank you to everyone who participated in 2025 — your support makes a real difference. We look forward to another successful year of helping Lake County dispose safely, responsibly, and sustainably in 2026.