Cleaning products do not typically contain ingredients that would harm the environment in the quantities that are disposed of by households.The vast majority of cleaning products are water soluble and are formulated for safe disposal in either municipal or home wastewater treatment systems. Household hazardous waste programs are intended to handle products that may cause a problem if disposed of by common methods, such as down the drain or in the trash.
If you cannot use all of your cleaning supplies up, or give them away.
The key to smart use and disposal of any cleaning product is to read the label and follow the directions. If there are no special disposal instructions on the label, then thinking about how you use the product will help you make the right decision.
For example, water soluble products (those mixed with water for cleaning), such as laundry and dishwashing detergents; multi-surface cleaners; bleaches; disinfectant cleaners; and liquid metal cleaners/polishes, drain openers and toilet bowl cleaners, can be flushed down the drain with running water. Powders should be disposed of in small quantities at a time so they don't form lumps in the drain. Solid cleaning products, such as bar soaps, toilet bowl cleaners and soap scouring pads, can be safely disposed of in the trash. So can aerosol cans with product left in them. Remember, just as you shouldn't mix cleaning products together when using them, you shouldn't mix unused products during disposal.
For disposal recommendations on other products, such as oven cleaners, crystal drain openers and furniture polishes, call the manufacturer's toll-free number or check with your local waste disposal facility.
cleaninginstitute.org
With the lid removed, the clean plastic container can then be recycled (if it marked as such).