Check what you can throw out — by ZIP
Enter a ZIP and an item. We check federal and state disposal rules and show you what they say. Sources are listed under every answer.
Public service. Built on federal regulations and state law. Sources listed under every answer.
Why does federal vs. state vs. county matter?
Federal rules set safety floors for batteries, paint, sharps, electronics, and other hazardous materials. They apply anywhere in the United States.
State rules add laws specific to each state — things like Minnesota's Covered Electronic Device law or California's PaintCare program. They override the federal baseline when the state has gone further.
County and city rules set local pickup schedules, drop-off facilities, and any local overrides — for example, Hennepin County composts pumpkins, but not every county does. ClearPath shows federal and state to anyone; sign in to add your county and city.