More than 645,500 Pounds of Chemicals, Pesticides, Paint, Oil, Flammable Liquids, and Other Hazardous Materials Collected During 2025

New Single-Day Collection Records Reached in Fall 2025 at Riverhead and Melville Sites

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced another record-breaking year for the CleanSweepNY program. More than 645,500 pounds of chemicals, including pesticides, paint, oil, flammable and nonflammable liquids, and other hazardous materials, were collected during 2025—the highest amount in the program’s 23-year history and an overall increase of 9.3% from the previous record collection year.  

“Programs like DEC’s CleanSweepNY continue to help discard unwanted or expired chemicals and pesticides while protecting public health and the environment,” said Commissioner Lefton. “Thanks to the continued support from Governor Hochul and investments from the Environmental Protection Fund, 2025 was another record-setting year for the CleanSweepNY program, with 343 participants disposing of more than 645,000 pounds of chemicals and helping support a toxic-free future for New York State.”  

CleanSweepNY helps promote a healthy and sustainable New York State by providing opportunities for proper disposal of unwanted and/or obsolete pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, sanitizers, and antifoulants, as well as other covered wastes, including fertilizers, paint, primers, among others. These services are provided without cost to farmers, licensed pesticide applicators, municipalities, city and county agencies, colleges, pesticide businesses, and garden centers. The program was established by DEC in 2002 to promote proper waste separation and disposal practices of these potentially harmful chemicals, which may otherwise have been disposed of in landfills or other inappropriate ways, in order to reduce the potential for negative impacts to human health or the environment. 

During 2025, the following materials were collected by DEC for safe disposal: 

• 194,001 linear feet (36.7 miles) of light bulbs; 
• 3,164 aerosol containers; 
• 251,027 pounds of pesticides; 
• 168,142 pounds of paint - 
• 105,136 pounds of paint diverted to PaintCare for recycling. Learn more about paint recycling on DEC’s website; 
• 28,430 pounds of motor oil; 
• 117,587 pounds of flammable liquids (hand sanitizers, gasoline, etc.); and 
• 73,717 pounds of nonflammable liquids (antifreeze, etc.). 

Fall 2025 Collection Events 

During the week of October 28, CleanSweepNY events in New York City and Long Island collected approximately 340,997 pounds of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals from farmers, municipalities, businesses, schools, and other entities that registered to dispose of these products free of charge. The total collected for the full week surpasses the previous record set during spring 2025, with an overall increase of 53%. 

The program included collection events in Riverhead and Melville (Suffolk County), North Merrick (Nassau County), and Forest Park (Queens County) in collaboration with the New York State Department of Transportation and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 

The Riverhead and Melville collection sites ranked first and second, respectively, in pounds collected in a single day in the 23-year history of the CleanSweepNY program. 

During the 4-day event, more than 160 participants dropped off a total of 110,421 pounds of pesticides, 105,268 pounds of paint, 12,573 pounds of motor oil, 57,086 pounds of flammable liquids like hand sanitizers and gasoline, 53,416 pounds of nonflammable liquids like antifreeze, and 1,822 aerosol containers. 

For more information about CleanSweepNY or to request a registration form for a future collection, visit the DEC website, email?cleansweep@dec.ny.gov, or call 518-225-8146.