The Streets Department has long experience disposing of hazardous waste safely and efficiently. Here’s how our program has evolved over the years to make things easy on you today.

• First HHW Event April 1994
• Program expanded to Offer 3 Drop off Events Per Year in Fiscal Year 1996
• Program expanded to Offer 5 Drop off Events Per Year in Fiscal Year 1998
• Regional Southeastern Pennsylvania HHW Program with Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties, was started during Fiscal Year 1999
• Regional HHW Program Received Governor's Environmental Excellence Award, November 1999
• Weekday Drop-off Events Added to Program Schedule in Fiscal Year 2000
• New HHW drop-off sites were added to the program at Ridge Avenue and Sedgley Avenue in 2001 in North Philadelphia and at 3033 South 63rd Street in Southwest Philadelphia
• During the Spring 2001, the Regional Southeastern Pennsylvania HHW Program Inter-Governmental Agreement was renewed by the counties and the City for a second three year term. City Council adopted the IGA on April 26, 2001.
• The Sanitation Division worked with the Women's Health and Environmental Network (WHEN) supporting its mercury thermometer exchange program during 2001 and 2002 as part of the Regional HHW Program. Over 13,000 mercury thermometers have been collected equivalent to 10,000 grams of mercury. On October 30, 2002, the Mayor issued a Proclamation proclaiming this day as Mercury-Free Philly Campaign Day.