The Household Hazardous Waste program provided by El Paso County helps residents safely dispose of common household products that may be harmful to people, pets, and our land and water resources. Items such as paints, chemicals, batteries, and cleaning supplies require special handling and should not be thrown in regular trash or poured down drains. Through proper collection and disposal, the program reduces land and water contamination and promotes responsible waste management in the community.
Hazardous Waste Hours of Operation
2026 Hours of Operation
- 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (will be closed Friday, June 12 for a special ticketed-only event)
Closed every Wednesday and County Holidays
* Appointments are required for 50 items or more or business waste. Call 719-520-7879, text 719-331-3226 or email evs-epc@elpasoco.com for more information.
2026 Saturday Dates and Hours of Operation
Open on the following dates ONLY during the hours of 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. (No large loads)
- September 19
- November 7
For large TVs, tires, and mattresses/box springs, visit the Clean Sweep event page for the most current dates. These items will not be accepted at the facility outside of the dates/times listed on that page.
❆ Some services may not be available during inclement weather (wind, rain, snow, ice, etc.) Call 520-7878 or 520-7879 to determine status prior to coming to the facility. For county-wide closures, visit the links below:
Examples of Accepted Household Hazardous Waste Materials
Paints & Stains
- Latex Paint
- Oil-Based Paint
- Hobby Paint
- Lacquers
- Stains
- Varnishes
Limited to a total of 50 gallons per household, per year. Containers must be no larger than 5 gallons. (No exceptions).
Lawn & Garden
- Lawn Fertilizers
- Houseplant Fertilizers
- Herbicides
- Insecticides
- Pesticides
- Rodent Poisons
- Wood Preservatives
Medical Sharps & Mercury
- Medical Sharps must be in a certified medical sharps container no larger than 2.2 quarts (available at any pharmacy). Two per household per month accepted.
- Mercury thermometers and thermostats. For other mercury-containing items, please call 719-520-7878 to verify acceptance.
Electronics
- TVs (20″ or smaller Cathode Ray Tube (CTR) or 40″ or smaller flatscreens)
- Central Processing Units (CPUs)
- Computer Monitors
- Keyboards
- Mice
- Printers
- Fax Machines
- Laptops
- Notebooks
- Ultra-Books
- Net Books
- Electronic Tablets
- DVD Players
- VCRs
- Radios
- Stereo Components (no speakers)
- Video Game Consoles
- Video Display Devices (screens greater than 4″)
Automotive Items
- Antifreeze
- Batteries
- Brake Fluid
- Transmission Fluid
- Cleaners (bug, tar, chrome, engine, vinyl)
- Flares
- Fuels
- Motor Oil
- Wax, etc.
(Used motor oil, antifreeze, and fuels are limited to 5 gallons per household, per month [by container size, not by how much is in it] . All must be separate from each other, must come in containers that are NO larger than 5 gallons. Five-gallon container may only be filled ¾ full and all containers must be left onsite.)
Household Items
- Aerosols*
- Ammonia
- Batteries**
- Bleach
- Cleaners
- Cooking & Lamp Oils
- Degreasers
- Deodorizers
- Fire Extinguishers
- Floor Products
- Fluorescent Lights***
- Furniture Polish
- Lead Acid Batteries
- Mercury
- Mothballs
- Pool/Spa Chemicals
- Photo Chemicals
- Rust Removers
- Silver Cleaners
- Solvents
- Spot Removers
- Thinners
- One pound (camping) & 20 pound (BBQ) propane tanks
Hazardous Waste Notes & Exceptions
Notes:
* All caps and nozzles on aerosol cans must be removed prior to drop off.
** Batteries cannot be leaking, corroded, rusted or dirty. Must come in clear resealable bag no larger than 1 gal.
*** Fluorescent lights limited to 100 ft per household per year.
Exceptions:
For a large load of hazardous waste items, pre-approval is required. Call 719-520-7879 or email EVS-EPC@elpasoco.com for information and an appointment. (Large load includes half a pickup bed or more, trailer load, and/or 50+ items).
–> For paint totaling more than 50 gallons (by container size, not by how much is in it), contact PaintCare at 855-724-6809 or visit PaintCare.org.
For all non-El Paso/Teller County residents, call or email with your items/quantities for fees or questions. You may also visit the Colorado Department of Health & Environment’s list of Hazardous Waste Collection Programs to find the site nearest you or review the current online Recycling Directory.
For faster service, complete, sign/date and print the Customer Release Form and bring it with you. Paperwork is also onsite.
- Do not mix products
- Do not place chemicals in a plastic bag. Stand upright in a box or a tub.
- Keep products in the original containers
- Secure products so they won’t leak
- Ensure the container is clean and free of leaves and other debris
- NO Containers Larger than 5 gallon
Items NOT Accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility
- Air Conditioners
- Appliances
- Asbestos
- Business / Commercial Waste (includes schools, churches, nonprofits, etc.) – See VSQG page for more information.
- Carpet, Rugs, Padding, Misc. Fabrics
- Compressed Gas Cylinders other than those listed above
- Containers larger than 5 gallons
- Electronics other than those listed above (see Clean Sweep page for larger size TVs)
- Furniture
- Ink and Toner Cartridges
- Lab Grade / Industrial Chemicals
- Mattresses / Box springs (see Clean Sweep page)
- Medications (click for more information)
- Microwaves
- Porcelain / Ceramic (this recycling program through Colorado Springs Utilities has been discontinued as of March 2025)
- Radioactive Waste
- Recycling: glass, cardboard, etc. (Separate program from Hazardous Waste. See Recycling page)
- School Lab Chemicals
- Styrofoam
- Tires (see Clean Sweep page)
- Trash
- Tree Debris / Yard Waste (see the Black Forest Slash & Mulch page OR the Rocky Top Resources page)
Any unacceptable items may be rejected. For questions, call 719-520-7878 or email evs-epc@elpasoco.com
Customer and Staff Safety
- To ensure the safety of staff and protect the personal property of customers, staff will not enter your vehicle.
- All individuals bringing household hazardous waste are required to remove each item from their vehicle and place them onto a cart. Ensure that someone in the vehicle can accomplish this.
- Some services may not be available during inclement weather (wind, rain, snow, ice, etc.) Call 520-7878 or 520-7879 or visit the links below to determine status prior to coming to the facility.
Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), El Paso County will provide a reasonable accommodation to qualified (must have an ADA parking placard) individuals with a disability who need assistance, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship to the County or fundamentally alter services. Services can be arranged with at least seven (7) business days’ notice by emailing evs-epc@elpasoco.com or calling 719-520-7878 or text 719-331-3226. “Walk-in” requests for auxiliary aids and services will be honored to the extent possible but may be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.
Terms & Conditions of Drop Off
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE LIABILITY RELEASE & CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:
I hereby declare and affirm of my own personal knowledge that the items delivered to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility was, in fact, generated through household use and is not business or commercial subject to federal or state waste regulations. I understand that should I surrender any data-containing device to the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility for recycling it is solely my responsibility to protect my personal information. I further agree to defend, indemnify, and hold El Paso County harmless from and against any and all liabilities, demands, claims, damages, suits, judgments and decrees, and court awards including costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees, on account of injuries to or death of any person or persons or damage to any property or personal information arising out of or related to my willful misconduct or negligent acts, errors or omissions for the duration of my participation. I understand that the items will be accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility in reliance on the accuracy and truth of my foregoing declaration/affirmation.
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