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3 Best Hazardous Waste Disposal Services in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

Fenris Morrow
By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 6 min read

For hazardous waste disposal in New York City, the honest answer is that the city itself runs the service. Two of the options here are NYC Department of Sanitation Special Waste Drop-Off sites, and the higher-rated one has logged 73 Google reviews at a 4.7 average. There's no large private hazardous waste industry serving individual New Yorkers the way there is in other cities, because the city built its own free network instead.

Short answer: For household hazardous waste in New York, the NYC DSNY Household Special Waste Drop-Off Sites are the top option, rated 4.7 across 73 reviews and free to use with proof of NY residency. A second DSNY site near the Lower East Side is rated 4.2 over 26 reviews. For commercial or industrial soil and waste treatment, Clean Earth in nearby Carteret, NJ is rated 3.5 across 45 reviews.
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New York's hazardous waste drop-off options

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 NYC DSNY Household Special Waste Drop-Off Sites 4.7 ★ 73 Free household special waste drop-off View ›
2 DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Site 4.2 ★ 26 Downtown/Lower Manhattan drop-off View ›
3 Clean Earth 3.5 ★ 45 Commercial and industrial soil treatment View ›
3 Best Hazardous Waste Disposal Services in New York (2026)

Where to take hazardous household or commercial waste

NYC DSNY Household Special Waste Drop-Off Sites logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

NYC DSNY Household Special Waste Drop-Off Sites

4.773 Google reviews

The NYC DSNY Household Special Waste Drop-Off Sites, run by the city's Department of Sanitation, accept household chemicals, paint, batteries, and e-waste from NYC residents at no charge. This particular location, in Flushing, is open several days a week and requires proof of NY residency for some items like TV drop-off. It's a city service, not a private company, and operates under the DSNY's Special Waste program alongside separate SAFE Disposal Events.

What people praise

  • Free for NYC residents, no appointment needed
  • Staff described as friendly and efficient, getting drivers in and out quickly
  • Accepts a wide range of items including paints, e-waste, and old tires
  • Reviewers report little to no wait even on weekends

Worth knowing

  • Proof of NY residency is required for some items like TV drop-off
  • Limited operating hours, closed Sunday and Monday
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume73 · 83rd
Confidenceearly
Recency6 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown84% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: With the highest rating and review count of the options here, this DSNY site is the clear first stop for any NYC resident trying to get rid of household chemicals, paint, or batteries for free.

Website+1718-746-2447 Directions

Between 120th &, South Side White Containers, 30th Ave, 122nd St, Flushing, NY 11354

DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Site logo
#2🕑 Open 5 days/wk

DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Site

4.226 Google reviews

This second DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off Site sits on Pike Slip near the Lower East Side and serves the same function as the Flushing location, taking harmful household products like cleaners, batteries, and e-waste off residents' hands for free. It's an unclaimed Google listing but still an active city facility, open on a more limited weekly schedule.

What people praise

  • Free service for NYC residents disposing of household hazardous waste
  • Reviewers describe the site as clean and easy to use once you know the hours
  • Staff called out as polite and helpful

Worth knowing

  • Only open one consistent day a week plus some alternating days, so hours need double-checking
  • One reviewer flagged late-night noise from sanitation operations in the surrounding area, unrelated to the drop-off service itself
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating4.2 / 5
Review volume26 · 61st
Confidenceearly
Recency4 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown73% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid backup for anyone closer to Lower Manhattan, though the more limited weekly hours mean it's worth confirming the schedule before you make the trip.

Website+1646-885-4503 Directions

74 Pike Slip, New York, NY 10002

Clean Earth logo
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Clean Earth

3.545 Google reviews

Clean Earth operates a soil treatment and recycling facility in Carteret, New Jersey, just across the river from New York City. It's the first fixed bioremediation facility permitted in New Jersey, processing petroleum-contaminated soil and non-hazardous materials like concrete, brick, and asphalt for commercial and industrial clients. This is not a household drop-off site, and it does not serve NYC residents directly.

What people praise

  • Handles large-scale industrial soil treatment that household drop-off sites cannot
  • One reviewer with a soil remediation project noted the staff knew what they were doing despite long wait times

Worth knowing

  • Multiple reviewers describe long waits and unhelpful staff interactions
  • Does not appear to accept residential drop-offs, based on reviewer complaints about being turned away
Reputation scorecardrank in New York
Rating3.5 / 5
Review volume45 · 72nd
Confidenceearly
Recency12 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown44% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Ranked third with the lowest rating on this page, Clean Earth is really a different category of service, industrial soil treatment rather than household hazardous waste, and worth considering only if that's specifically what you need.

Website+1732-541-8909 Directions

24 Middlesex Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008

4

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How we rank these options

Rating is each listing’s live Google average. Review volume measures how many people have actually left a rating, ranked against the others here. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, since a 4.7 built on 73 reviews carries more certainty than a rating built on fewer. Recency checks whether people are still reviewing the site recently. No business or agency can pay to change these numbers.

What does hazardous waste disposal cost in New York? (2026)

For NYC residents, household hazardous waste disposal through the city’s Special Waste Drop-Off Sites and SAFE Disposal Events is free, with quantity limits per visit. Commercial and industrial waste treatment, like the soil work Clean Earth handles in New Jersey, is quoted per project and depends on volume and material type, so there’s no general price to cite here.

Hazardous waste drop-off near New York

The two DSNY sites cover Flushing, Queens and the Lower East Side of Manhattan, with additional Special Waste Sites and SAFE Disposal Events run by the city elsewhere in the five boroughs. For anyone searching for hazardous waste disposal near me in NYC, check NYC311 for the full current list of sites and event dates, since hours and locations can change. Commercial waste treatment, like Clean Earth’s facility, is based just across the river in Carteret, New Jersey.

What to check before you go

  • What are the current operating hours for this specific drop-off site?
  • Do I need proof of NY residency or any documentation to drop off items?
  • Is there a quantity limit per visit?
  • Does this location accept the specific item I have, like electronics or paint?
  • If it’s a commercial quantity, do I need a different service entirely?
  • Are there upcoming SAFE Disposal Events closer to me?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these listings?

We pulled real Google ratings and review counts for hazardous and special waste disposal facilities serving the New York area, then ranked them by rating, review volume, and how recently people have been reviewing them.

How often is this updated?

We refreshed this list in August 2026 using current Google ratings and review data. We recheck listings periodically as new reviews come in.

Is hazardous waste disposal free in New York City?

Yes, for NYC residents disposing of household quantities of items like paint, batteries, cleaning products, and electronics. The city’s Special Waste Drop-Off Sites and SAFE Disposal Events handle this at no cost. Businesses need to contract a licensed environmental services company instead.

Why are there so few private hazardous waste companies listed for New York?

New York City runs its own free Special Waste Drop-Off network for residents, which covers most household needs. Commercial and industrial hazardous waste in the region is typically handled by larger regional facilities like Clean Earth, some of which are located just outside city limits in New Jersey.

The bottom line

If you’re an NYC resident with household chemicals, paint, or e-waste to get rid of, start with the DSNY Special Waste Drop-Off site in Flushing, the highest-rated and most-reviewed option here, and it’s free. Check hours before you go, since both city sites run limited weekly schedules. Businesses with commercial or industrial waste will need a licensed contractor rather than a household drop-off point.

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