The El Paso County Environmental Division, Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHWF) is located at 3255 Akers Dr. Colorado Springs, 80922 (map at bottom of page).
Items accepted are listed below.
El Paso/Teller County households only.* Proof of residency is required at drop-off (photo ID, lease, etc.)
See VSQG page for waste disposal from businesses, nonprofits, schools, etc.
Appointments no longer required.*
Hazardous Waste (paints, chemicals, some e-waste, etc.) accepted :
– Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30AM – Noon & 1:00PM – 4:00PM. (No Wednesdays). Closed County Holidays.
Household Recyclables (paper, glass, cardboard, etc.) accepted:
– Wednesday: 8:30AM – 11:30AM (or until the bins are full)
For faster service, complete, sign, and print the Customer Release Form and bring it with you. Paperwork is also onsite.
Proof of El Paso/Teller County residency is required at drop off. (Driver’s License, State ID, lease, utility bill, etc.)
* RESTRICTIONS APPLY:
- Large loads (half a pickup bed or more, trailer load, and/or 50+ items) will require pre-approval. Send an email to evs-epc@elpasoco.com with a photograph of your items and/or a complete list. Failure to obtain pre-approval may result in the load being turned away. Send an email if you are unsure if you have a large load.
- Clean Sweep Events (for tires, mattresses, and large TVs) will require registration. Visit the Clean Sweep page for more info.
- Waste for non-household organizations (includes businesses, churches, local governments, nonprofits, schools, etc.) will be accepted on Wednesday afternoons by appointment only. Pre-registration is required. Fees apply. Visit the VSQG page for more information.
- Out-of-county waste may be accepted on a fee-for-service basis. Call for information. You may also visit the following link for other Colorado county hazardous waste programs: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/household-haz-waste-collection
To ensure the safety of staff and protect the personal property of customers, staff will not enter your vehicle. All individuals bringing household hazardous waste are required to remove each item from their vehicle and place them onto a cart. Ensure that someone in the vehicle can accomplish this. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), El Paso County will provide a reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with a disability who need assistance, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship to the County or fundamentally alter services. Services can be arranged with at least seven (7) business days’ notice by emailing evs-epc@elpasoco.com or calling 719-520-7878. “Walk-in” requests for auxiliary aids and services will be honored to the extent possible but may be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.
Some services may not be available during inclement weather (wind, rain, snow, ice, etc.) Call 520-7878 or 520-7879 or visit the links below to determine status prior to coming to the facility.
https://www.elpasoco.com/category/news/
https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoCountyCO
EXAMPLES OF MATERIALS ACCEPTED AT THE EL PASO COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY:
Paint, Stains, Solvents, Etc. Latex, Oil-Based, Aerosols*, and Hobby Paints; Lacquers, Solvents, Stains, Strippers, Thinners, Varnishes, etc. Limited to a total of 50 gallons. *Must remove all caps and nozzles on aerosol cans prior to drop off.
Lawn and Garden: Lawn & Houseplant Fertilizers, Herbicides, Insecticides, Pesticides, Rodent Poisons, Wood Preservatives, etc.
Household: Aerosols*, Ammonia, Batteries (Cannot be leaking, corroded, rusted, or dirty. Must come in clear resealable bag no larger than 1 gal.), Bleach, Cleaners (for carpet, drain, oven, toilet), Cooking & Lamp oils, Degreasers, Deodorizers, Fire Extinguishers, Floor Products, Fluorescent Lights (limited to 100 ft per household per year), Furniture Polish, Lead Acid Batteries (does not require bag), 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. *Must remove all caps and nozzles on aerosol cans prior to drop off.
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, Wax, etc. (Used Motor Oil, antifreeze, and fuels are limited to 10 gallons each [by volume] per household, per month. All must be separate from each other, must come in containers that are NO larger than 5 gallons. Five-gallon container may only be filled ¾ full and all containers must be left onsite.)
Electronics: TVs (20” or smaller CRTs, 40” or smaller flatscreens [see Clean Sweep page for larger sizes]), 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 they are 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: Thermometers and thermostats. Call 520-7878 to verify acceptance.
- NOTE: Paint totaling more than 50 gallons and/or a large load of hazardous waste items, pre-approval is required. Call 719-520-7879 or email EVS-EPC@elpasoco.com for information and an appointment. (Large load includes half a pickup bed or more, trailer load, and/or 50+ items).
For all non-El Paso/Teller County residents, call or email with your items/quantities for fees or questions. Visit the Colorado Department of Health & Environment’s list off Hazardous Waste Collection Programs to find the site nearest you. Review the current online Recycling Directory.
- Do not mix products
- Do not place chemicals in a plastic bag. Stand upright in a box or a tub.
- Keep products in the original containers
- Secure products so they won’t leak
- Ensure the container is clean and free of leaves and other debris
EXAMPLES OF MATERIALS NOT ACCEPTED AT THE EL PASO COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY:
- Air Conditioners
- Appliances
- Asbestos
- Business / Commercial Waste (includes schools, churches, nonprofits, etc.) – See VSQG page for more information on the program that will begin January 2024 for non-households.
- Carpet, Rugs, Padding, Misc. Fabrics
- Compressed Gas Cylinders other than those listed above
- Containers larger than 5 gallons
- Electronics other than those listed above (see Clean Sweep page for larger size TVs)
- Furniture
- Ink and Toner Cartridges
- Lab Grade / Industrial Chemicals
- Mattresses / Box springs (see Clean Sweep page)
- Medications (click for more information)
- Microwaves
- Radioactive Waste
- Recycling: glass, cardboard, etc. (Separate program 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)
- Trash
- Tree Debris / Yard Waste (see the Black Forest Slash & Mulch page OR the Rocky Top Resources page)
Any unacceptable items may be rejected. For questions, call 719-520-7878 or email evs-epc@elpasoco.com
TERMS & CONDITIONS
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE LIABILITY RELEASE & CERTIFICATION STATEMENT: I hereby declare and affirm of my own personal knowledge that the items delivered to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility was, in fact, generated through household use and is not business or commercial subject to federal or state waste regulations. I understand that should I surrender any data-containing device to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility for recycling it is solely my responsibility to protect my personal information. I further agree to defend, indemnify, and hold El Paso County harmless from and against any and all liabilities, demands, claims, damages, suits, judgments and decrees, and court awards including costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees, on account of injuries to or death of any person or persons or damage to any property or personal information arising out of or related to my willful misconduct or negligent acts, errors or omissions for the duration of my participation. I understand that the items will be accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility in reliance on the accuracy and truth of my foregoing declaration/affirmation.