Deschutes County hosts free hazardous waste disposal days through October

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes County Solid Waste will host three free household hazardous waste collection events in La Pine, Sisters and Redmond during October.

The one-day events allow local residents to safely dispose of accepted hazardous household materials free of charge.

All three collection events will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The schedule begins Sunday, Oct. 4, at the South County Services Center parking lot at 51340 U.S. Highway 97 in La Pine.

The second event takes place Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Sisters Recycling Center at 328 Sisters Park Drive.

The final collection event is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Negus Transfer Station at 2400 NE Maple Ave. in Redmond.

Accepted items for the collection events include oil and latex paints, stains, thinners, solvents and fuels. Residents may also drop off oil-soaked rags and absorbents in nonreturnable containers, pool and spa chemicals, household cleaners and garden products such as herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. Vehicle fluids, including coolants, lubricants, fuels, brake fluid and transmission fluid, will also be accepted.

Additional accepted items include barbecue grill-size propane tanks, camp stove cylinders, rechargeable batteries and aerosols such as spray paints, garden sprays and cleaners. The collection will also take fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs and mercury-containing items like thermometers and thermostats.

Certain materials will not be accepted at the collection events. Excluded items include business-generated hazardous waste, medical waste, explosives, fireworks and ammunition. Compressed gas cylinders other than propane tanks and camp stove cylinders are prohibited, as are any containers larger than five gallons.

For residents unable to attend the October events, Deschutes County accepts household hazardous waste free of charge year-round at the Knott Landfill in Bend. Located at 61050 SE 27th St., the drop-off site is near the landfill's recycling drop-off area and operates every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents seeking more information can visit deschutescounty.gov/hhw or call the Department of Solid Waste at (541) 317-3163.