HAZARDOUS WASTE

Stay tuned for the next Orcas Household Hazardous Waste Clean-up in Spring 2024. Sign up for our newsletter for alerts!

We will take most HHW materials at no charge with the following EXCEPTIONS:

  • No Paint or Stain* (unless it is spray paint)
  • No Liquid Fuels (gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, etc)
  • No ammunition, flares, fireworks

*Paints and stains may be brought in to ORS for FREE any other day of the year. Learn more HERE.

Round-ups are County/ORS funded events for HOUSEHOLDS only. If you are a business you must register in advance.

Household hazardous waste is a small percentage of every islander’s total waste, yet its proper disposal makes the greatest immediate impact on our air, water, and soil quality. When you take a little extra time to identify and separate hazardous items, or use alternatives, you make big strides toward our goal of a zero waste community.

What do we accept?

Click below for detailed info on what we accept at HHW events.

  • Cooking oil (recycle it)
  • Batteries (recycle it)
  • Bleach
  • Carpet cleaner
  • Disinfectants
  • Drain openers (alternatives)
  • Floor wax
  • Oven cleaner
  • Polishes
  • Toilet and tub cleaners
  • Water softeners
  • Window cleaners
  • Fluorescent bulbs (recycle it)
  • Thermometers
  • Electronics (recycle it)
  • Hypodermic needles (bring these in CERTIFIED hard plastic containers with lids)

  • Auto and boat repair products
  • Antifreeze (recycle it)
  • Degreaser
  • Motor Oil (recycle it)
  • Propane tanks
  • Rust remover
  • Glues
  • Oil-based paint
  • Paint thinner
  • Wood preservatives
  • Batteries (recycle it)
  • Latex Paint (recycle it)

What is Hazardous Waste?

Products are hazardous in different ways, based on their specific danger. A product like pesticide is “toxic” because it causes illness. “Flammable” means the product burns easily (ie. paint thinner). Waste that is “corrosive,” like oven cleaner, eats through other materials. A hazardous item like fireworks might also be “reactive,” because it causes a dangerous reaction when exposed to heat, air, or water.

When in doubt, look for labels that emphasize these words: combustible, warning, caution, danger, harmful is swallowed, and keep out of reach of children and pets.

What to do with it?

We only accept hazardous materials from businesses during our annual summer pick-up event. Similarly, we only accept gasoline & diesel at the summer event. Also, we NEVER accept latex paint during round-ups; but now have a recycling program for latex, you can read about it here.

Break the Habit

Did you know you can remove rust with sour milk? Or adding one cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda to the final rinse of your laundry is a fabric softener? Stop buying household products containing hazardous materials. Commit to finding alternatives instead. If it is too intimidating to imagine revamping your entire house in one audit, try one room per month until your entire house is hazmat-free within the year. It is the best thing you can do for the environment on Orcas Island.

Do you have your own non-toxic secret recipe? Share it on our Facebook page.