How to Dispose of Artificial Nail Products

Many products used in nail salons such as acetone are considered hazardous waste and must be properly disposed of for safety. Check with your local city and county Health Department to see if there are regulations governing your area before disposing of any waste product in a regular refuse container. Proper disposal of artificial nail products is the responsibility of the salon owner, who should pay strict attention to safety.

Things You'll Need

• Metal container with tight lid
• Labels or permanent markers
• Rubber gloves
• Hazardous waste container
• Fireproof cabinet (optional)
• Trashcan

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Instructions

• 1

  Designate a metal container with a tight lid to store cotton balls and other disposable materials that have nail polish remover, acetone or any other harsh solvents in them. Label it "Flammable" along with the hazardous materials it contains.

• 2

  Check the cotton balls and waste materials at the end of the day to see if they are dried out or still dripping wet with solvent.

• 3

  Put on rubber gloves to handle cotton and other waste products. Remove cotton balls that are sufficiently dry to a regular garbage can at the end of the work day.

• 4

  Take the remaining cotton balls and waste materials that are still wet, and squeeze out excess into a separate, container with a tight lid. You may place the cotton balls in a regular trash container once you have removed the excess liquid.

• 5

  Mark the container containing the solvent as hazardous waste.

• 6

  Take, or arrange a pickup, of all hazardous waste, including unwanted nail polishes, removers and waste acetone to a hazardous waste treatment facility. This could be a hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal or recycling facility.