How to Dispose of Hand Sanitizer Safely

How to dispose of hand sanitizer depends on how much you have and what is in it. Most sanitizers are mostly alcohol, which makes them flammable, so a garage shelf full of leftover jugs is not something to dump down the sink or toss loose in the trash. This guide covers using up small amounts, where to take bulk or expired sanitizer, how to handle recalled products, and what to do with the empty bottles — without inventing fees or rules that vary from town to town.

The quick answer

• A little left in a bottle? Use it up as directed, or give it to someone who will.
• Several bottles, gallon jugs or a case left over? Take them to a household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off or collection event.
• Recalled product? Stop using it and follow the recall notice; HHW is the usual fallback.
• Empty bottle? Let it air out with the cap off, then recycle it if your program takes that plastic, or put it in the trash.
• Do not pour jugs down a drain or storm drain, burn it, or store it near heat or open flame.

Why hand sanitizer needs care

Alcohol-based sanitizers rely on ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, usually as the main ingredient by volume. That is why they work, and it is also why they catch fire easily. A single pocket bottle is not much of a hazard, but a box of gallon refills stored next to a water heater or thrown into a garbage truck is a different story.

Some products are alcohol-free and use an ingredient such as benzalkonium chloride instead. Those are not flammable in the same way, but they are still chemicals that should not be poured out in bulk. Check the “active ingredient” line on the label to see which kind you have.

Use it up or give it away

The simplest disposal is to use the product for its intended purpose. Small partial bottles can go in a car, a backpack, a desk drawer or by the door. If you have more than you will use, offer sealed bottles to:

• Schools, day cares and youth sports teams
• Churches, shelters and food pantries
• Neighbors through a free group or buy-nothing listing

Call before you drop off. Many organizations will not take opened containers, and some only want small bottles.

Leftover and bulk sanitizer

When you have more than you can use or give away, treat it like other flammable household liquids and take it to an HHW program. Many counties run a permanent drop-off site; others hold collection days a few times a year. Our household hazardous waste guide explains how these programs usually work, and the Dumpmapper map can help you find a nearby drop-off.

Before you go:

• Keep it in the original containers with the labels on, and the caps tight.
• Stand the bottles upright in a box or tub so nothing leaks in your car.
• Do not combine products into one jug to save space.
• Ask about limits, since many programs cap how much one household can bring per visit and some turn away business quantities.

Businesses, offices and schools that stocked up and now have pallets of sanitizer usually cannot use residential HHW. They typically need a licensed hazardous waste hauler or a program for small businesses. Your local solid waste office can point you in the right direction.

Expired or recalled sanitizer

Sanitizer bottles often carry an expiration date because the alcohol can slowly evaporate once a bottle is opened, which may leave it less effective. An expired bottle is not more dangerous than a fresh one; it is still flammable and should be handled the same way. If you do not want to use it, take it to HHW rather than pouring it out.

Recalled sanitizers are different. Over the past several years, regulators have warned about some products that contained ingredients that should not be in them, such as methanol. If you have a product on a recall or warning list, stop using it, keep it away from children, and follow the disposal steps in the notice. Those notices commonly say to take the product to a hazardous waste site rather than pouring it down a drain.

Empty bottles and pumps

Once a bottle is empty, leave the cap off for a while so any remaining alcohol evaporates. After that:

• Bottles are often plastic that curbside programs accept. Check the recycling number on the bottom against your local list.
• Pump tops usually contain a small metal spring and mixed plastics, which many programs cannot sort. Put pumps in the trash unless your hauler says otherwise.
• Small travel bottles may be too small for sorting equipment in some areas, even when the plastic type is accepted.
• Wall dispenser refills and bag-in-box packs are usually trash unless the maker runs a take-back program.

What not to do

• Do not pour gallons down a sink, toilet or storm drain. Large amounts of alcohol and other ingredients are not meant for the sewer or local waterways.
• Do not burn it or use it to start a fire.
• Do not toss full jugs into the regular trash, where they can be crushed or exposed to heat in the truck.
• Do not store it in a hot car, near a furnace or water heater, or in direct sun.
• Do not mix it with bleach or other cleaners. For those products, see our guides on disposing of bleach and aerosol cans.

Hand sanitizer disposal FAQ

Can I pour hand sanitizer down the drain?

Avoid pouring it out, especially in any quantity. Use small amounts as intended and take leftover bottles or jugs to household hazardous waste. If you are unsure about a small residue, ask your local sewer or solid waste office.

Can I throw hand sanitizer in the trash?

An empty bottle can usually go in the trash or recycling. Full or partly full jugs are flammable and are better handled through a household hazardous waste drop-off.

Is hand sanitizer hazardous waste?

Alcohol-based sanitizer is flammable, so many programs treat leftover quantities like other flammable household liquids. Check with your county or city household hazardous waste program.

What should I do with expired hand sanitizer?

Expired sanitizer may be less effective but is still flammable. Use it for non-critical cleaning if the label allows, or take it to household hazardous waste.

Can I recycle hand sanitizer bottles?

Often, once they are empty and aired out, if your program accepts that plastic type. Pump tops usually go in the trash because they mix plastic and metal.

How do I get rid of a lot of hand sanitizer from a business?

Businesses usually cannot use residential programs. Contact a licensed hazardous waste hauler or your local small-business waste program for bulk quantities.

The bottom line

How to dispose of hand sanitizer mostly comes down to quantity. Use up or give away what you can, take leftover jugs, expired stock and recalled products to household hazardous waste, and recycle or trash the empty bottles once they have aired out. Keep it away from drains and heat, and call your local program to confirm what it accepts.