Columbia County sponsors free household hazardous waste collection event on Saturday, February 22, 2020

Columbia County news release:

February 5, 2020

Contact: Kathy Boutin-Pasterz , Public Works 503-397-7259 (office), Kathleen.Boutin-Pasterz@columbiacountyor.gov

Columbia County sponsors free household hazardous waste collection event Saturday February 22, 2020

Dozens of items available for proper disposal

olumbia County is helping residents get an early start on spring cleaning by hosting a Household Hazardous Waste collection event. If you think it’s too early to dust your cupboards, then start in your garage, shed and basement and gather unwanted toxic and dangerous items for safe disposal.

The free event takes place at the Columbia County Transfer Station at 1601 Railroad Ave. in St. Helens on Saturday, February 22, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Many items used around the home, including cleaning, gardening and automotive products are considered hazardous and can’t be placed in garbage bins or disposed through regular recycling. Toxins in these products can present potential safety and health hazards when discarded into the environment.

“The county’s household hazardous waste collection program gives people the opportunity rid their homes of dangerous items the right way,” said Kathy Boutin-Pasterz, the county’s Solid Waste Administrator. “Household hazardous waste should never be flushed into toilets, poured down kitchen drains, buried in the backyard, dumped into storm drains or thrown into garbage cans.”

Below is a list of items that can be brought to the February 22 event. Items must be in containers of less than five gallons and should be secured safely during transport. Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from vehicles.

*ammunition

*fireworks and flares

*gas / diesel / fuels / antifreeze / motor oil

*lawn and garden chemicals

*herbicides and pesticides

*pool and spa chemicals

*light ballasts — please remove from light fixture

*fluorescent tubes

*art and hobby chemicals

*solvents and thinners

*items containing mercury

*propane cylinders

*compressed gas cylinders

*batteries - car, rechargeable, button — no alkaline batteries

*cleaners and detergents

*poisons

Unwanted paint, used motor oil and used cooking oil can be brought to the event as well as any time during open hours for no fee.  Medical Sharps are accepted during open hours for no cost at the Scale House. Sharps must arrive in a sealed, self-closing, puncture-proof OSHA approved container.

Although automotive batteries, antifreeze and fluorescent tubes will be collected at no cost during this collection event, a fee is charged when brought to the Transfer Station at other times.

The St. Helens Police Department accepts expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs at 150 S 13th St. Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - noon or 1 -5 p.m. in the MedReturn collection box. 

The county will host five more household hazardous waste events this year. The next event takes place in April in Vernonia.

For more information, email Kathy Boutin-Pasterz at Kathleen.Boutin-Pasterz@co.columbia.or.us or call her at 503-397-7259.

###

ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County plans, organizes and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction and household hazardous waste management throughout its 657 square-mile area.  The county operates the transfer station in St. Helens and administers solid waste collection franchises within the unincorporated area of the county.