Go greener, get rid of household hazardous waste next month

Vancouver, WA – Aiming to boost public awareness about the safe storage, use and disposal of hazardous products in the home, the Board of Clark County Commissioners has designated October 5 – 11 as Household Hazardous Waste Awareness Week.

Common household products such as pesticides, paints, solvents, batteries, cleaners, motor oil and others have the potential to harm people, pets and the environment. During this year’s Household Hazardous Waste Awareness Week, the Clark County Solid Waste program, in partnership with Clark County cities, will sponsor several free collection events while promoting public safety and greater awareness of non-hazardous alternatives. Events include:

· Mercury thermometer, unwanted medication, hearing aide, cell phone and eyeglass collection - Tuesday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital, 2211 NE 139th St. Use the 23rd Avenue entrance.

· Mercury thermometer, unwanted medication, hearing aide, cell phone and eyeglass collection - Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1 - 4 p.m. at Southwest Washington Medical Center, 400 NE Mother Joseph Pl. Collection site is at the entrance to the Education Center just south of the 92nd Avenue hospital entrance.

· Block foam and household hazardous waste collection event - Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Clark County Public Works Operations Center, 4700 NE 78th St.

Hazardous materials should never be disposed of in a ditch, on the ground, down a storm drain, in a septic tank or in the trash. To identify hazardous products/waste, look on the label for the following signal words: poison, corrosive, combustible, caustic, volatile, flammable, danger, caution or warning. For proper disposal, take hazardous materials to any of the following Clark County collection facilities or events:


Central Transfer and Recycling Center
Washougal Transfer Station

11034 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver 4020 S. Grant St., Washougal

(360) 256-8482 (360) 835-2500

Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Third Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.





West Van Materials Recovery Center Satellite Collection Events Visit RecyclingA-
6601 NW Old Lower River Rd., Vancouver Z.com or contact Clark County Solid Waste at
(360) 737-1727 (360) 397-6118 ext. 4352 for collection

Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. information.



Disposal of household hazardous wastes at facilities or events is free; however, there is a 25-gallon or 220-pound limit per visit. The waste facilities and satellite collection events do not accept unlabeled products, empty paint cans or containers, leaking containers, explosives, ammunition, radioactive material or biological and infectious materials. Please call for assistance if you have these materials or if your waste is from a business. Materials must be in the original container.


Clark County and its cities also sponsor a free Home Collection Program for eligible senior citizens and residents with disabilities who have no means of transporting household hazardous waste to the collection facilities or mobile collection events. For a hazardous waste pick-up, residents can call Clark County Solid Waste at (360) 397-6118, ext. 4352.

For more information about hazardous waste disposal, including disposal options for businesses, call (360) 397-6118, ext. 4352 or visit RecyclingA-Z.com.