Get rid of your paint, batteries and other household hazardous waste for free this weekend

Rebecca Powell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·1 min read

If you're in garage-cleaning mode right now, then you'll probably come across some old paint, cleaning chemicals and weed killer that you're ready to get rid of.

You can do that for free on Saturday, May 18, at the city's household hazardous waste collection event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city's Streets Facility, 625 Ninth St.

The event allows residents to get rid of everyday products that can present a risk to people or the environment at no charge.

But if you miss Saturday's event, you can recycle a lot of these materials at the city's Timberline Recycling Center, 1903 S. Timberline Road, and at the Larimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Road. Fees may apply at the Timberline Recycling Center.

To avoid the risk of fire, explosion or spills when transporting items, store them upright in boxes or tubs, seal them tightly and make sure they are not leaking. The city asks residents to keep similar items together without stacking them and to separate acids and oxidizers.

Here are some items you can drop off:

  • Household batteries

  • Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers

  • Cleaners and bleaches

  • Fluorescent light bulbs

  • Pool and hot tub chemicals

  • Vitamins and supplements

  • Painting products (stain, solvent, spray paint)

  • Automotive products (virtually all fluids)

  • Personal care products (shampoo, lotion, nail polish remover)

  • Mercury-containing items (thermostats, button-shaped batteries)

Here are items that can't be dropped off:

  • Tires

  • E-waste

  • Asbestos

  • Explosives

  • Pharmaceuticals

  • Biowaste (needles, bandages)

  • Commercial and industrial waste

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins' free hazardous waste collection event is coming up