Kerosene Hazardous Waste Illegal in Garbage or Drains Find out what to do with hazardous waste Never Dump Down the Drain Kerosene is considered Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and should never be dumped down the drain. Doing so will contaminate drinking water sources. Store in Opaque Plastic Container To store kerosene, keep inside opaque plastic containers and out of direct sunlight. Take these precautions to keep fuel safe from combusting, or losing its quality. Did You Know? Kerosene Does Not Last Forever Kerosene does go bad over time, although no one knows exactly how long it takes. This fuel loses its quality as condensation adds water to the kerosene container overtime. Mold and bacteria populations that live inside the container are also capable of transforming it into a sludge-like consistency.