Most used air filters from homes, like furnace and HEPA filters, are not hazardous waste and can be thrown in your regular trash. However, filters heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals, biological hazards, or automotive fluids (like oil filters) require specialized hazardous waste disposal.
Five Tips for Properly Disposing of an Old Air Filter
Your options include: Contacting your filter supplier and asking if the local recycling branch is capable of disposing of filters. Using the mail-in prepaid mailers that recycling companies offer for used air filters. In some cases, a recycling program will even provide return a new filter made from recycled materials.
Hazardous waste is typically categorized by the EPA into four primary characteristic types, plus a "Universal Waste" designation for common everyday items.
*Unfortunately HEPA filters cannot be recycled due to the nature of their purpose. HEPA filters are designed to capture dirt, dust, bacteria, and allergens making them extremely dirty. For this reason they cannot be recycled and must be disposed of with normal household waste.
Most HEPA filters that have been decontaminated are viewed as non-hazardous and are disposed of as non-regulated waste. Some biological agents are resistant to gaseous decontamination and may need special handling.
Steps for safe disposal of air filters:
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the EPA classifies hazardous waste into four primary categories based on its specific properties. These characteristics determine how the materials must be stored, transported, and disposed of to prevent harm to human health and the environment.
It includes municipal solid waste (packaging, clothing, bottles, paper, cardboard, plastics, etc), demolition waste with inert materials like concrete, bricks, stones, and food waste.
These wastes include waste solvents, paints, oils, PCBs, and mercury-containing lamps. In the majority of cases, these wastes either appear on MDE's lists of hazardous waste or exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste.
Most standard disposable AC filters are made of a combination of paper, fiberglass, and metal components. While these materials are technically recyclable, the recycling process can be complex and may not be widely available in all areas.
Several common household and commercial items are not recyclable through standard collection programs, despite appearing to be made of recyclable materials. The most frequent offenders include greasy pizza boxes, disposable coffee cups, plastic-coated paper, bubble wrap, and small electronics.
This item is garbage. Put this item in your garbage (grey) cart.
Traditionally, the recycling of air conditioning filters has proved difficult as most are classed as hazardous waste by local authorities. The materials used in manufacturing typically means they have to be thrown away with the rest of your household waste.
Standard blue filters—such as Blueair purifiers or HVAC filters— cannot be placed in your curbside recycling bin. They are generally considered unrecyclable by standard municipal programs due to mixed materials and trapped contaminants.
How should I throw away an old furnace filter? Place the used filter in a plastic bag (you can use the packaging from your new filter) and tie it shut to prevent dust from escaping. Then, place it in your regular trash bin.
Household hazardous waste
The following materials are generally not categorized as hazardous wastes because they do not meet the legal criteria for toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity, or reactivity:
Dispose of your unused Ozempic pen by returning it to a local pharmacy, placing it in a designated drug take-back drop box, or using a prepaid mail-back envelope. Never throw loose pens or needles into the regular household trash or recycling.
Hazardous waste includes substances that are toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive, requiring specialized disposal to prevent environmental and health hazards. Common examples include:
The nine hazard symbols used to identify the kind of substances that COSHH deals with are explosive, flammable, oxidising, corrosive, acute toxicity, hazardous to the environment, health hazard, serious health hazard and gas under pressure.
Hazardous wastes are classified into categories based on their origin and dangerous properties. Under the U.S. EPA framework, the 7 primary categories of hazardous waste are:
In most cases, you'll want to drop off your filters at the recycling center. Remember: HEPA filters can be recycled, pleated cotton or fabric filters can be reused, carbon and aluminum filters can be disposed of in your regular trash.
Proper Disposal of Used Filters In general, while used carbon filters and HEPA filters can be disposed of in approved landfills, it is important to check with your laboratory safety officer in advance of filter disposal. Local codes may also determine how your used filters should be disposed.
Air Filters Go in the Trash
Air filters contain fiberglass, which cannot be recycled. Throw them in the trash.