Virtually every household in Gwinnett has them. Household hazardous waste (HHW) is leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic. They range from bug sprays in aerosol cans to weed killers in spray bottles.
As these HHW products age or are no longer needed, residents need to seek appropriate ways to dispose of them. To that end, Gwinnett County is planning is bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day co-hosted by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful and Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources (DWR).
The next event – marking the first of two in 2026 – is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.
“We are pleased to provide this option for residents of Gwinnett, and since its inception eight years ago, it’s been very well received,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “Household hazardous waste can take up space in one’s garage, storage room, basement, and cabinets. Not only is participation in our HHW Collection Day a great way to declutter ahead of the big Spring clean, but it’s also an impactful form of environmental stewardship. By placing that household hazardous waste in our hands, event attendees can rest assured it will be disposed of properly, with minimal to no environmental impact.”
Items that will be accepted during the February 7 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day include:
- Aerosol/spray pesticides
- Automotive products (engine degreaser, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)
- Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids, and bases
- Aerosol/spray paint
- Auto batteries
- Batteries (household and rechargeable)
- Chlorinated solvents
- Cooking oil and grease
- Fire extinguishers
- Flammables (lighter fluid and waste fuels like kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)
- Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts
- Hand sanitizer
- Insecticides
- Latex and water-based paints
- Lawn care products
- Mercury
- Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers
- Oil-based paint and stains
- Oxidizers
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Propane cylinders
- Solvents and varnishes
- Thermostats and other mercury-containing items
- Thinners and paint strippers
- Weed killer
- Wood preservative
Items that will NOT be accepted include ammunition, radioactive waste, pharmaceuticals, biomedical/biohazard waste, and fireworks. This event will also NOT include the collection of electronics, tires, or paper for shredding.
Gwinnett residents may bring up to five “containers” of household hazardous waste for FREE. Containers may be the size of a laundry basket, a small moving box, or a paper grocery bag. Attendees should note that containers will not be returned. Gwinnett County Fairgrounds is located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Attendees are asked to enter the main entrance of the Fairgrounds, located off Sugarloaf Parkway, at the traffic light.
King is new director of Suwanee Arts Center
The Suwanee Arts Center (SAC) has named a new executive director. She is Athea King, who brings more than a decade of nonprofit, gallery, and leadership experience—along with a commitment to building an inclusive, accessible, and arts-centered community.
She most previously was with the Woodruff Arts Center, where she managed engagement for more than 130 Board of Trustees members, stewarded philanthropic partnerships, and co-developed fundraising events benefitting statewide arts education. Her work supported campus-wide collaborations between the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Alliance Theatre, strengthening integrated community programming across disciplines.
Athea also served as Gallery associate of Visual Merchandising at the Spruill Gallery, in Atlanta, where she led merchandising strategy, strengthened artist relationships, and directed the annual Holiday Art Fair, the gallery’s largest and most successful fundraising event, featuring more than 145 curated artisans.
Athea’s background also includes roles at the High Museum of Art, ArtCloud, HomeStretch, and Alan Avery Art Company, experiences that have shaped her into a multifaceted arts leader skilled in strategic planning, donor and board relations, program development, operations management, and artist advocacy.
She plans to develop classes, exhibitions, and public programs that reflect the vibrancy of Suwanee and foster meaningful connections between artists, residents, and local organizations.
In addition to her administrative leadership, Athea is a practicing fine art photographer whose work has been exhibited throughout the Southeast and supported by two successful Kickstarter campaigns. She holds a BFA in Photographic Imaging from the Art Institute of Atlanta.
