Here at the Hazardous Waste Management Program, we believe in preventing toxic exposures as much as possible, but we also think it’s all about how you handle toxics, too. The first step is identifying the toxic things around us – and while we're at it, within us. Take this quiz to find out what kind of hazardous waste you are. Learn a little along the way about managing toxic materials, too.

The Quiz 

Be truthful to yourself and do your best to choose one answer per question. DO NOT scroll down to see the results – that’s cheating 😊. 

When at a social outing/event, do you: 

A. Talk to everyone and anyone

B. Hold up the wall and try not to be noticed

C. Observe the room and approach only those you know

D. Find a group having an interesting conversation and take charge of their discussion

When faced with a problem at work to solve, do you:

A. Work with a team to come up with a solution

B. Solve the problem on your own

C. Gather feedback and then make a decision 

D. Delegate the decision-making to someone else

It’s Saturday night, what are you up to?

A. Catching up with friends or volunteering

B. Crafting or creating something

C. Rock climbing at the gym

D. Hosting a party 

When do you have the best energy?

A. All day and night

B. Mornings are the best (6 a.m. – Noon)

C. Afternoons are good for me (Noon – 6 p.m.)

D. My energy is high in the evening (6 p.m. – Midnight)

What’s your favorite social media network?

A. Facebook

B. LinkedIn

C. Tik Tok

D. Instagram

What would your dream vacation be?

A. Volunteering with friends in your community

B. Unplugging at a cabin in the mountains

C. Exploring an exotic beach destination

D. Going on a safari

Now the results!

Okay, now you can look. Count how many A’s, B’s, C’s, and D’s you chose and read below to learn what your “toxic” traits are.

Answer mostly A’s? 

You’re batteries! Did someone say social butterfly?! Your enthusiasm, energy, and ability to make connections with other people make you the life of any party. Because you prioritize your friendships and family, you sometimes forget to make time to recharge and take care of you. Put your feet up, take a relaxing bath, enjoy some chocolate, or binge a favorite TV show—you earned it!

Answer mostly B’s?

You’re oil-based paint! Your friends can depend on your durable and lasting friendship. You love a good challenge, but you can be prone to being hyper-focused on your goal. You appreciate life in the slow lane, and no one can hurry you along because you’re often set in your ways. You know that saying about rocks weathering the elements for thousands of years to become smooth and polished? That’s you!

Answer mostly C’s?

You’re drain cleaner! You are easily excited and love exploring, and others really enjoy your company because of this. You usually see problems as challenges and life experiences and try to stand above them, objectively. However, you can be unreasonably demanding and highly critical, which may come off as corrosive to others. But your reliability and confidence let others feel they can count on you, which can be draining. Take time to care for yourself, bundle up, and enjoy a hot cup of tea!

Answer mostly D’s?

You’re bleach! You enjoy vibrant social events with lots of people. You often spend time exploring intriguing places. You are more a big picture person than detail-oriented. You are very affectionate with people you care about, but you can also make them cry and give them headaches. Sometimes you can go to extremes if people don’t treat you correctly and with caution. Even though your personality is usually predictable, you may be irritable and impulsive. Take a few deep breaths to calm down the next time you find yourself starting to get too critical of others.

Congratulations! You’ve discovered a new part of yourself – your “toxic” traits! 

While this quiz makes light of common household hazardous waste, these materials are in fact harmful to the environment and those around you. 

Tips to handle hazardous materials to keep you and your loved ones safe  

Dispose of hazardous materials properly

You can take your household hazardous waste to any of the four collection sites in King County or, from February to October, to the traveling Wastemobile. No appointment necessary, and there’s no fee for these disposal services.

Before making the trip to a collection site, check out our hazardous product list to see which items are accepted at collection sites. If the product is not accepted, information is available on how to dispose of the product properly. 

Finally, when transporting hazardous waste:

• Don’t mix or combine products.
• Keep products in their original containers when possible.
• Label products that are not marked.
• Secure products so they won’t tip or leak during transport.
• Cover and tie down your load.
• Don’t transport products in the passenger seats of your vehicle.

Check the labels

The best way to reduce your family’s exposure to harmful materials is to choose home and garden products that don’t contain toxic materials. When shopping for products, read the labels and choose the least hazardous product. Look for products that:

• Have an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice logo 
• Do not have the words CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER, or POISON on the label

Use Do-It-Yourself cleaners

Try making your own cleaners with ingredients you already have at home. Check out these instructions for safer cleaning recipes that are safer than many conventional cleaning products, which often contain toxic chemicals.

Still have questions about hazardous waste? Contact the Haz Waste Help Line for additional information on proper disposal and how to use safer alternatives. Call 206-296-4692 or email haz.waste@kingcounty.gov.

Now go and share your “toxic” personality, and your knowledge about hazardous waste, with others.