The Household Hazardous Waste event scheduled for April has been postponed until further notice.   This results from a delayed approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  The Solid Waste division is anticipating approval sometime in the summer.  Once approved, staff will need to coordinate and check the availability of specialized contractors required for the collection event.  Please visit this webpage for updates or follow on the City’s Facebook page.  In the meantime, please continue to follow best practices for household items. 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event flier

Some leftover or used household products contain chemicals that can present safety concerns if not managed properly. These products are often called household hazardous waste (HHW) and can include items such as:

• Paints (oil-based or some anti-mildew latex): Limit of 25 gallons per vehicle
• Fluorescent light bulbs (including CFLs)
• Fuels (gasoline, propane, diesel)
• Corrosive cleaners (such as drain cleaner and lye-based oven cleaner)
• Pesticides
• Pool chlorine and acid
• Wood stains or varnishes
• Mercury

If generated by a household, these materials are not required to be handled as hazardous waste and can often be placed in your trash. 

*Latex (water base) paint, once completely dried, can be thrown out with normal household trash.  Adding cat litter to the paint will help dry it out.  For larger quantities of paint, consider donating it to an organization or school.  For cleaners and pesticides, it is best if placing in the trash, that they are separated into individual plastic bags. Some residents seek to dispose of their HHW in a more protective manner, such as a Hazardous Waste Collection.

Listed below are a few reminders for HHW events:

• HHW drop off is for Kerr County residents only and not intended for commercial businesses;
• All HHW items must be in containers not greater than 5 gallons;

Prohibited items include

• ammunition or explosives,
• biohazards or radioactive material,
• gas cylinders,
• any items containing refrigerant such as an air conditioner, refrigerator or freezer,
• new or used motor oil.

Accepted items include  

• batteries and antifreeze,
• cleaning products and pool chemicals,
• pesticides and insecticides,
• yard fungicides and herbicides,
• latex and oil-based paints, paint thinners and removers,
• fluorescent bulbs,
• thermometers and thermostats,
• propane tanks with less than a 50 lb. capacity 
• automotive tires (limit of 8)
• all types of computers and accessories;  TV and CRT monitors (limit of two per vehicle).

To protect both yourself and the workers who accept your HHW at a collection site, follow some basic guidelines and tips for storage, transportation, and care of your material:

• Keep products in their original container and make sure labels are readable. This ensures you know which products you have and so do the workers who accept and sort your HHW.
• Store and transport your chemicals upright, not on their sides. Make sure if you are taking HHW to a facility or event, that you have it secured in your vehicle and it is not leaking – it can be dangerous if leaking containers of incompatible chemicals mix.
• NEVER mix products together. This can be dangerous, even fatal.
• Keep chemicals in a cool, dry place out of reach of children and pets.

(https://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/hhw)