When people don’t safely dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) — including paint, automotive products, and household or outdoor chemicals — they create serious safety and environmental problems.
“HHW should never be poured into sinks or drains, flushed down toilets, poured onto the ground, discarded in storm drains, or placed in regular trash for pickup,” said Hana Berres, Stormwater Education Training Manager for the Jefferson County Roads and Transportation Department.
That’s why Jefferson County is sponsoring a free, public Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day on Oct. 18, from 8-11:30 a.m., at two locations:
- Camp Bessemer: 3295 King St.
- Camp Ketona: 121 County Shop Road
There is no fee to attend, but participants must be residents of Jefferson County.
This event provides residents an opportunity to safely dispose of HHW from their garages, basements, kitchens, and bathrooms, along with TVs, electronics, and paper for shredding. The county asks that items be sorted, and that like items be grouped together.
Why HHW Should Not Go in the Trash
Improperly disposing of HHW in household garbage sends it to residential landfills not designed to handle hazardous materials — unlike specialized hazardous waste facilities.
“Residential landfills aren’t equipped to manage items like cleaning chemicals, oil-based paints, batteries, fire extinguishers, or mercury-containing items such as thermometers and old thermostats,” Berres said.
She added that HHW in landfills poses a risk to waste workers and can leach harmful chemicals into the environment.
When chemicals are tossed into trash cans, they may be compressed together by trash compactors, producing dangerous vapors.
“For example, mixing bleach and ammonia from two separate households can be particularly hazardous,” Berres said.
There’s also a long-term consequence.
“The faster we fill up landfills, the faster we have to build more — and no one wants to live next to one,” Berres said. “Building landfills is also expensive.”
Accepted Items Include
- Automotive products: vehicle fluids, degreasers, tires with no rim
- Household products: chemicals, cleaners, batteries, and light bulbs
- Outdoor products: fertilizers, pesticides, and pool and yard chemicals
- Paint products: paints, thinners, and wallpaper cement.
- Miscellaneous items: fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, mercury, and household cooking oil and grease
- Special recyclables: No. 1 and 2 plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and glass bottles (any color)
Want More Info?
See a full list of accepted items and event details online or in the app.
- Call: 205-325-8741
- Web: jccal.org
- App: Download the MyJeffCo App or scan the QR code
