The Cole County Household Hazardous Waste Facility will be open for hazardous waste dropoffs a few days over the next several months, giving residents a chance to safely dispose of household waste.
The 2020 Household Hazardous Waste dropoff dates are March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, Sept. 2, Sept. 16 and Oct. 7.
On those days, residents can make appointments to drop off hazardous household waste. Commercial or business waste will not be accepted.
To make an appointment for dropoff, visit hhwscheduling.as.me or call 573-634-6410. Dropoff appointments are approximately 15 minutes long between 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Accepted materials include oil-based paints, adhesives and glues, aerosol cans, antifreeze, bleach, brake fluid, charcoal lighter fluid, fertilizer, insecticides, gasoline, various cleaning products, paint stripper, wood stain, propane cylinders, rat or mouse poison, swimming pool chemicals, fluorescent tubes and light bulbs, among others.
Materials that aren't accepted include single-use batteries, latex paint, asbestos, fireworks or explosives, needles, smoke detectors, tires, infectious or biological wastes, radioactive waste, unknown substances, appliances, electronics and glass.
For a full list of accepted and not accepted items, visit the city's Household Hazardous Waste page.
The Cole County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, which is located at 2310 Hyde Park Road, was established in March 2011 to make sure hazardous materials are safely disposed and don't end up in local streams, ditches or right-of-ways. Rachel Senzee, neighborhood services specialist with the Jefferson City Department of Planning and Protective Services, said collecting them safely prevents them from hurting the community.
"It's important that household hazardous waste is recycled where they're supposed to be recycled to prevent things that should not be going to the landfill from going to the landfill," Senzee said. "Certain chemicals should not be mixed with other chemicals, and in order for them to not have a landfill accident or to seep into ground water or expose to children, pets, family members - that's why you dispose of them properly."