County announces collection events for household hazardous waste in rural communities

As spring ushers in the warmer weather, now is an ideal time to clean out the garage and safely dispose of items that are considered household hazardous waste (HHW). This June, Deschutes County Solid Waste will be hosting HHW collection events for the communities of Redmond, Sisters and La Pine, giving community members an opportunity to drop off their hazardous items free of charge.  

“For the health and safety of our community, it’s important to keep household hazardous waste out of the county landfill,” said Greg Brady, Deschutes County Hazardous Waste Supervisor. “Because rural transfer stations aren’t currently equipped to accept household hazardous waste, the county holds free, one-day collection events so residents can discard old paint, cleaning chemicals and other household hazardous waste safely and responsibly.”

Items that will be accepted at the collection events include:

• Oil and latex paints and stains
• Thinners, solvents, fuels
• Oil soaked rags and absorbents
• Pool and spa chemicals
• Garden products (herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.)
• Vehicle fluids (coolants, lubricants, fuels, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc.)
• Propane tanks and camp stove cylinders
• Aerosols (paints, garden sprays, cleaners, etc.)
• Mercury and Mercury-containing items (thermometers, thermostats, etc.)
• Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs
• Rechargeable batteries
• Household cleaners

Items that will not be accepted include:

• Business-generated hazardous waste
• Medical waste
• Explosives, fireworks, ammunition
• Compressed gas cylinders (propane tanks and cylinders are accepted)
• Barrel

Collection event location, date and hours of operation for each community are listed below.

• Redmond – Negus Transfer Station 
• 2400 NE Maple Ave, Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• La Pine – South County Services Center (*New location*)
• 51340 U.S. 97, in the front parking lot, Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

• Sisters - Sisters Recycling Center  
• 328 W. Sisters Park Drive, Saturday, June 21, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Household hazardous waste is also accepted free of charge at the Knott Landfill HHW Facility every Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The facility is located at 61050 SE 27th St. in southeast Bend. To learn more about common hazardous waste materials visit the Solid Waste Department website.

For questions about the HHW collection events, please call the Department of Solid Waste at (541) 317-3163.

You can learn more about the HHW collection program by listening to episode 51 of the Inside Deschutes County Podcast on the podcast platform of your choice, or at deschutes.org/podcast.

###

Media Contact:

Greg Brady, Hazardous Waste Supervisor

(541) 322-7173