El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste: A Comprehensive Guide to Disposal Hours and Accepted Items

Introduction

Are you a resident of El Paso County looking for a safe and responsible way to dispose of your household hazardous waste? Look no further! The El Paso County Environmental Division operates a dedicated Household Hazardous Waste Facility where you can drop off a wide range of potentially harmful items for proper disposal.

Facility Hours

The El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is open to El Paso/Teller County residents only. Proof of residency is required at drop-off. Here are the facility’s hours of operation:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
• Second Saturday of each month: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Accepted Items

The Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts a variety of household items that contain hazardous materials, including:

• Paint, Stains, Solvents, Etc.: Latex, oil-based, aerosol, and hobby paints; lacquers, solvents, stains, strippers, thinners, varnishes, etc. (limited to 50 gallons total)
• Lawn and Garden: Lawn and houseplant fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, rodent poisons, wood preservatives, etc.
• Household: Aerosols, ammonia, batteries, bleach, cleaners (carpet, drain, oven, toilet), cooking and lamp oils, degreasers, deodorizers, fire extinguishers, floor products, fluorescent lights (limited to 100 ft per household per year), furniture polish, lead acid batteries, mercury, mothballs, pool/spa chemicals, photo chemicals, rust removers, silver cleaners, smoke alarms, spot removers, one-pound (camping) and twenty-pound (BBQ) propane tanks, etc.
• Porcelain: Toilets, sinks, ceramic tiles, granite, and marble countertops, etc. (remove all non-porcelain parts from toilets)
• Automotive: Antifreeze, batteries, brake and transmission fluids, cleaners (bug, tar, chrome, engine, vinyl), flares, fuels, motor oil, wax, etc. (used motor oil, antifreeze, and fuels are limited to 10 gallons each [by volume] per customer, per appointment, per month)
• Electronics: TVs (20″ or smaller CRTs, 40″ or smaller flatscreens), central processing units (CPUs), computer monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, fax machines, laptops, notebooks, ultra-books, net books, electronic tablets, DVD players, VCRs, radios, stereo components (no speakers), video game consoles, and video display devices with viewing screens greater than 4 inches. (Cables/cords/wires will only be accepted if permanently attached to the device.)
• Medical Sharps: Must be in a certified medical sharps container no larger than 2.2 quarts (available at any pharmacy). Two per household per month accepted.
• Mercury: We accept thermometers and thermostats. Please call 520-7878 to verify acceptance or referrals for all other items containing mercury.

Items Not Accepted

The Household Hazardous Waste Facility does not accept the following items:

• Air conditioners
• Appliances
• Asbestos
• Business/commercial waste (includes schools, churches, nonprofits, etc.)
• Carpet, rugs, padding, misc. fabrics
• Compressed gas cylinders other than those listed above
• Containers larger than five gallons
• Electronics other than those listed above (see Clean Sweep page for larger size TVs)
• Furniture
• Ink and toner cartridges
• Lab grade/industrial chemicals (see Business Waste contacts below)
• Mattresses/box springs (see Clean Sweep page)
• Medications (click for more information)
• Microwaves
• Radioactive waste
• Recycling: glass, cardboard, etc. (Separate from Hazardous Waste. See Recycling page)
• School lab chemicals (Contact the school or company that issued the chemicals or visit the VSQG page.)
• Styrofoam
• Tires (see Clean Sweep page)
• Tree debris/yard waste (see the Black Forest Slash & Mulch page OR the Rocky Top Resources page)

Additional Information

• Pre-approval is required for large loads (half a pickup bed or more, trailer load, and/or 50+ items).
• Waste for non-household organizations (includes businesses, churches, local governments, nonprofits, schools, etc.) is accepted on Wednesday afternoons only by appointment ONLY. Pre-registration is required. Fees apply.
• Out-of-county waste may be accepted on a fee-for-service basis.
• For faster service, complete, sign, and print the Customer Release Form and bring it with you. Paperwork is also onsite.

Conclusion

If you’re a resident of El Paso County looking to dispose of household hazardous waste, the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is your go-to destination. With its convenient hours and wide range of accepted items, the facility makes it easy for you to safely and responsibly dispose of these potentially harmful materials. Remember to check the facility’s hours of operation and accepted items list before your visit to ensure a smooth and successful drop-off.