Revised on: April 14, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.
Businesses, schools, and other organizations across Arizona acquired large amounts of hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, much of which is now expiring. The high alcohol content (typically at least 60 percent by volume) allows for the possibility of alcohol-based hand sanitizer to catch fire and makes it an ignitable hazardous waste when discarded. The following provides businesses, schools, and other organizations guidance and resources for properly discarding alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
What not to do...
- Do not pour expired hand sanitizer down the drain. Clean Water Act regulations prohibit the discharge of what would otherwise be an ignitable hazardous waste.
- Do not put expired hand sanitizer in the garbage. Regulated hazardous wastes may not enter the regular trash unless the generator is considered a household or very small quantity generator.
- Do not take expired hand sanitizer to a household hazardous waste collection site. Household hazardous waste collection sites are for households only and can take limited amounts of hazardous waste. Businesses, schools, and organizations are not permitted to use these sites.
What are your options?
Recycling & Reclamation
Hand sanitizer is not regulated as hazardous waste when returned to the manufacturer or a recycler who can reclaim the alcohol. However, it's important to understand how it is recycled. For example, reclaimed alcohol cannot be used as fuel or burned for energy recovery. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) website to learn more about identifying legitimate recycling opportunities | Visit >
Please note that businesses and organizations that recycle their waste hand sanitizer must provide appropriate documentation showing it is legitimately recycled.
Disposal as a Hazardous Waste
If legitimate recycling or reclamation isn't possible, then expired hand sanitizer must be disposed of as hazardous waste, which will require:
- Sending the sanitizer to a permitted hazardous waste disposal facility
- Following all RCRA regulations
- Submitting annual reporting to ADEQ via myDEQ | Learn More >
- Paying all applicable fees and meeting other requirements
Other Resources
- EPA Guidance: How to Dispose of and Recycle Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer | Visit >
- Fact Sheet: What Should Schools Do With Expired Hand Sanitizer? | View/Download >
- Poster: What Should Schools Do With Expired Hand Sanitizer? | English > | En Español >
