On Saturday, the El Paso County Hazardous Waste Facility hosted an event to collect hard-to-recycle items. These free events are open to El Paso and Teller County residents, allowing them to drop off electronics, tires, mattresses and box springs, and even some household chemicals.
The events are always well attended, so it is advised to register now for your spot in August. Click here to register via eventbrite.
You'll need to bring proof of residency, such as a valid state or federal id or a lease agreement. Appointments are first come, first serve at the facility east of Colorado Springs at 3255 Akers Drive. That's between N Carefree and Constitution, just west of Marksheffel Rd.
Organizers say they're happy to help people properly dispose of those items. "It just makes me happy that people take advantage of coming in and dropping off their things as opposed to trying to put them in the trash or abandoning them somewhere. Or just leaving them in the garage till who knows when," says Division Manager Kathy Andrew.
From the El Paso County Hazardous Waste site:
The following items are accepted free at the Clean Sweep Events from El Paso and Teller County residents ONLY – no trash, no business waste:
Electronics: ANY SIZE TV or COMPUTER MONITOR, limited to three total per vehicle. Computers, printers, fax machines, laptops, notebooks, ultra-books, net books, electronic tablets, DVD players, VCRs, radios, stereos, video game consoles, video display devices with viewing screens greater than 4” diagonally.
Paint and paint-related products (stains, strippers, thinners, varnishes, etc.) – 25 gallon limit.
Household chemicals (aerosols, ammonia, bleach, cleaners, lamp oil, etc.)
Lawn & garden chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, poisons, plant food, etc.)
Mattresses/Box Springs (limited to six [6] total) August 2020 only
Automotive chemicals (motor oil [10 gallon limit], antifreeze, brake & transmission fluids, waxes, bug/tar/vinyl/chrome/engine cleaners, etc.)
All types of batteries – lead-acid vehicle batteries and all types of household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, 9-volt, watch & hearing aid batteries)
Tires passenger and light truck (limit is nine {9} per vehicle)
NOT ACCEPTED:Mattresses/Box springs (June 2020 only), Business waste, appliances, containers larger than 5-gallon, fluorescent bulbs & tubes, lab-grade or industrial chemicals/products, medicines, medical tools/supplies, furniture, wood, trash or recyclables, unlabeled or leaking containers, cables/wires NOT attached to anything, phones (landline/cellular), satellite dishes, speakers, fans, lawn mowers, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heaters, propane cylinders larger than 1 lb., home media items (CDs, DVDs, VHS, etc.), remote controls.
Any unacceptable items may be rejected. If you have an item not listed, please call 719-520-7878 for acceptance criteria.
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Hazardous materials recycling is available year-round at the facility by appointment, but not for free.
Click here to set a June appointment.
Click here to set a July appointment.
More information
Examples of items accepted at the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility:
Paint, Stains, Solvents, Etc. Latex, Oil-Based, Aerosol, and Hobby Paints; Lacquers, Solvents, Stains, Strippers, Thinners, Varnishes, etc. Limited to a total of 50 gallons.
Lawn and Garden: Lawn & Houseplant Fertilizers, Herbicides, Insecticides, Pesticides, Rodent Poisons, Wood Preservatives, etc.
Household: Aerosols, Ammonia, Batteries, Bleach, Cleaners (carpet, drain, oven, toilet), Cooking & Lamp oils, Degreasers, Deodorizers, Fire Extinguishers, Floor Products, Fluorescent Lights, Furniture Polish, Laundry Products, 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. Items must be put in 4 ft. dumpster without staff assistance.
Automotive: Antifreeze, Batteries, Brake & Transmission Fluids, Cleaners (bug, tar, chrome, engine, vinyl), Flares, Fuels, Motor Oil (10-gallon limit per household per month, containers can be no larger than five gallons , filled only three quarters full and must be left at the site), Wax, etc.
Electronics: TVs (20” or smaller CRTs, 40” or smaller flat screen), 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.
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.
Examples of items NOT accepted at the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility:
Appliances
Asbestos
Business/Commercial Waste
Compressed Gas Cylinders other than listed above
Containers larger than five gallons
Furniture
Medications
Mattresses/Box springs
Misc. Electronics: Telephones (cellular or landline), answering machines, TVs (CRTs larger than 20″ diagonal screen, flat screens larger than 40″ diagonal screen), appliances, karaoke machines, speakers, tools, lamps, loose cables/wires, media (DVDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, etc.)
Radioactive Waste
Recycling (plastic bottles, cardboard, etc.)
Styrofoam
Tires
