Waste Disposal for Artists
Many art products contain hazardous ingredients. Properly disposing of your waste keeps it out of the environment. Check our Art Hazards pages for discipline-specific disposal guidelines.
Follow these tips to safely dispose of your waste.
Disposing of art chemical containers
- Dispose of empty containers in the trash.
- Containers with the words Danger, Warning, Caution or Poison on the label are hazardous products and hazardous waste when no longer useful.
- Artists working in home-based studios in King County can deliver hazardous waste to one of our no-charge Household Hazardous Waste Collection Sites. Call 206-296-4692 for assistance.
- Commercial studios in King County may be able to deliver their waste to one of our no-charge Business Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites. Complete the online form or call 206-263-8899 for assistance
Disposing of contaminated wastewater
In the process of creating art, contaminated wastewater is often produced. Don’t pour hazardous art wastewater down the drain.
- Storm drains - never pour art wastes down a storm drain.
- Septic tanks
- Learn if your studio is connected to a septic tank or the sewer.
- No wastewater contaminated with hazardous products is allowed in septic tanks. Hazardous products are labeled with the words Danger, Warning, Caution or Poison.
- Sanitary sewer
- Learn if your studio is connected to a septic tank or the sewer.
- Almost no wastewater contaminated with hazardous products is allowed in the sanitary sewer. Hazardous products are labeled with the words Danger, Warning, Caution or Poison.
- Mop water from studio floor cleaning is usually acceptable for disposal to the sewer as long as chemical spills are cleaned up first.
