How to Dispose of Xylene & Toluene

Xylene (a mixture of dimethylbenzene's three isomers) and toluene (methylbenzene) are both highly-flammable solvents commonly used in home improvement. Sold by the gallon in most retail hardware chains, these two chemicals are significant eye and throat irritants when highly concentrated. Volatile and insoluble in water, xylene and toluene readily leach into soil where they can contribute to rates of cancer and fetal illness. To safely dispose of these chemicals, it's best to drop them off at a recycling center that specializes in hazardous solvents.

Things You'll Need

• Permanent Black Marker
• One-Gallon Paint Can

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Instructions

• 1

  Visit an online directory of hazardous waste disposal organizations (http://earth911.com/hazardous/).

• 2

  Type "Solvents" in the first text field.

• 3

  Type your five-digit ZIP code into the second text field.

• 4

  Click the "Search" button.

• 5

  Check the bottom line in each listing to ensure you are an eligible resident. Some centers only accept hazardous waste from residents of certain counties. For example, if you lived in Indiana literally 100 feet from the Illinois-Indiana border, you wouldn't be allowed to drop off xylene and toluene at a center that says "For Illinois Residents Only" in its listing.

• 6

  Pour the xylene and toluene into separate metal containers, preferably with secure covers. One-gallon paint cans, pre-ground coffee cans or the solvents' original screw-cap containers are all suitable.

• 7

  Using permanent marker, label the cans "Xylene" and "Toluene," respectively.

• 8

  Call the center and ask for drop-off directions.

• 9

  Leave the containers at the assigned drop-off point.