Household Hazardous Waste is defined by the EPA as:
Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, and/or reactive ingredients. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them.
These items always seem to be an issue when it’s time to move, people often leave them behind because the just don’t know what to do with them. Identification and proper disposal of these items is important for several reasons, least of which are human health and safety. For example, used motor oil is insoluble, slow to degrade, and can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
Household batteries contain cadmium, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, manganese, lithium, or potassium, which are all know to be hazardous to the environment and human health.
Due to their toxic nature, items categorized as Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) need to be disposed of at an appropriate facility. Fortunately, El Paso County has a Hazardous Waste disposal facility and drop of HHW items is free for El Paso County residents.
The facility is located in the Powers area at 3255 Akers Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80922. This is between Constitution Ave. and North Carefree Circle, just West of Marksheffel Road.
For a complete list of what types of waste the facility collect as well as information on hours, please visit their website Click Here