Many people’s New Year’s resolutions include cleaning out and organizing their homes. Throughout the year, homeowners collect their Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), but aren’t sure how to conveniently dispose of items that may be toxic or corrosive, such as residential paint or other household chemicals.
Round Rock residents can safely dispose of their hazardous waste during a collection event held at the Round Rock Recycling Center, located at 310 Deepwood Drive, on the first Wednesday of each month from 3PM to 6PM. There are also two Saturday collections, one held in the Spring and one in the Fall. An appointment to drop off HHW at an alternate time is available for an additional fee and can be scheduled with a trained chemist by contacting the Recycling Center directly.
Disposing of hazardous waste at the Round Rock Recycling Center is free during regular collection events for City of Round Rock water utility customers. Residents will need a driver’s license and a city water bill as proof of residency. Round Rock residents located in the Brushy Creek MUD or Fern Bluff MUD can pick up a “Hazardous Waste Disposal Voucher” from their respective MUD office and bring it to the collection.
Residents will need to:
• Show a valid driver’s license and recent City of Round Rock water bill or HHW Voucher
• Limit materials to no more than 25 gallons
• Seal containers if possible
• Label unmarked containers if contents are known
• Remain in your vehicle until a member of our staff arrives to assist you
Options for Non-Residents
Non-residents of Round Rock can take advantage of the collection event at the Round Rock Recycling Center and drop off materials for the cost of $40 per car during scheduled collection events.
Additionally, the Williamson County Waste Management hosts a household hazardous waste collection twice a year for residents of Williamson County. Please visit the Williamson County Landfill website (https://williamsoncountylandfill.wm.com/community/household-haz-waste-collection.jsp) for dates and locations.
The Importance of Proper Disposal
Improper disposal of HHW can create an unsafe environment in your home, causing a hazard to your health, or pollute the environment and harm others. Even if the dangers are not immediately noticed, prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals can hurt surrounding people, plants and animals that come into contact with deleterious materials. Improper disposal of HHW includes pouring leftover materials down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash.
In the city of Round Rock, water that goes down the sanitary sewer system (from sinks or toilets) flows to a wastewater treatment plant and is treated and filtered. However, storm water (water that flows after a rainfall) and urban runoff water from driveways, streets and the storm sewer system, flows directly to local creeks, lakes and rivers. Residents use these water bodies for swimming, fishing, providing drinking water and other activities. Residents may believe that dumping their hazardous material on the ground outside their home is safe, but water runoff may carry those toxic chemicals to places of frequent use.
Safely Handle Hazardous Waste
It is always important to take precautions when handling or transporting hazardous waste. The following are guidelines to consider with any hazardous materials or toxic chemicals:
• Follow any instructions for use and disposal provided on product labels.
• Never mix materials. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode.
• Transport items in boxes to prevent spills in your vehicle.
• Keep hazardous products in their original containers and never remove labels.
Examples of Household Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste items include any leftover products in which the ingredients contain potentially dangerous characteristics such as being corrosive, ignitable, toxic or reactive. Below are some examples of items that can be accepted at the Round Rock Recycling Center.
Acceptable items include:
• Adhesives
• Aerosol Cans
• Automotive Products – Oil, Antifreeze, etc.
• Batteries of any type
• Cleaners
• Fertilizers
• Herbicides
• Lacquer
• Mercury
• Paint (Latex Paint Tip)
• Paint Thinner
• Pesticides
• Poisons
• Polishes & Varnishes
• Pool Chemicals
• Smoke Detectors
• Solvents
• Stain
• Turpentine
Some items are not accepted at the Round Rock Recycling Center and these include:
• Bullets & Ammunition of any type
• Contractor or Business Waste
• Explosives, Fireworks & Flares
• Gas Cylinders or Propane Tanks
• Cooking Oil
• Medical Waste
• Radioactive Materials
• Sharps
• Tires (contact tire dealerships)
• Trash, Garbage, Landscape Debris
• 30 or 50 Gallon Drums of Materials
2016 Schedule
1st Wednesday of every month (rain or shine) from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• March 2
• April 6
• May 4
• June 1
• July 6
• August 3
• September 7
• October 5
• November 2
• December 7
Spring Saturday Collection: April 16, 2016 from 8 a.m. to noon
Fall Saturday Collection: October 22, 2016 from 8 a.m. to noon
Disposing of Other Materials
Automotive Products and Tires
Automotive products such as motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters and car batteries are accepted at the Round Rock Recycling Center from residents daily 9:30AM to 6PM except on city holidays. Several local companies can dispose of tires. For more information on tire disposal, contact the following companies for more information:
• Wal-Mart Automotive Center – (512) 310-9024
• Discount Tire – (512) 341-8593
• NTB National Tire and Battery – (512) 238-9523
Latex Paint
Latex paint can be disposed of with your regular household trash, but the following steps will insure it is disposed of safely.
1. Open the can to let the paint dry completely. Adding cat litter speeds up the process.
2. Once the paint is completely dry, you may dispose of it and the can with your regular household trash.
For more information go to www.roundrocktexas.gov/hhw or contact the Recycling Center with questions about disposing your hazardous waste.
