City of Tacoma and Pierce County residents may dispose of household hazardous waste at the City’s collection facility free of charge. Customers must show proof of residency with a current photo ID.
Accepted / not accepted items
Prepare items for drop-off
Facility hours / directions
Household hazardous waste diversion
Accepted/not accepted items for household hazardous waste drop-off
Here are lists of the most common items accepted and not accepted at the City of Tacoma Household Hazardous Waste Facility. If you have a question about something not listed, call (253) 591-5418.
Household hazardous waste – YES
-
Acids & caustics
-
Antifreeze
-
Automotive products
-
Batteries (car, button, household)
-
Flammable liquids
-
Fluorescent bulbs
-
Gas and fuel
-
Glues
-
Household cleaners
-
Hypodermic needles or syringes (sealed inside rigid container)
-
Insecticides
-
Mercury thermometers/thermostats
-
Motor oil
-
Oil-based paints
-
Pool chemicals
-
Solvents
-
Yard & garden chemicals
Household hazardous waste – NO
If you have questions about proper disposal of these non-acceptable items, please call the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at (253) 591-5418.
Prepare your household hazardous waste for drop off
When preparing hazardous items for disposal at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, put liquids in sturdy leak-proof containers with caps or lids (plastic bottle, milk jug, glass jar, etc.) and secure breakable or loose items inside boxes or bags. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility is a drive-up-only facility where attendants unload your hazardous waste from your vehicle.
Facility hours & directions
Hours
8 a.m.-6 p.m., every day
(Closed: New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day)
Location
The Household Hazardous Waste Facility is located at the Tacoma Landfill, 3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, WA 98409
Directions
- From I-5: Take Exit 132 and merge onto SR-16. Take the Center Street/Fircrest exit. At the traffic light, go straight onto South Mullen Street and follow the road until you reach the landfill.
- From Orchard Street: Turn onto South Center Street going east. Turn right onto South Mullen Street and follow the road until you reach the landfill.
For more information, e-mail solidwaste@cityoftacoma.org, or call (253) 591-5418.
Household hazardous waste diversion
Solid Waste Management sends many of the hazardous products it collects to recyclers, helping reduce the costs of the hazardous waste diversion program as well as returning the materials to the marketplace for reuse as a raw material or fuel.
Household hazardous waste diverted/recycled tonnage
| |
Diverted |
Recycled |
|
1994 |
113 |
67 |
|
1995 |
100 |
60 |
|
1996 |
133 |
78 |
|
1997 |
123 |
77 |
|
1998 |
145 |
85 |
|
1999 |
148 |
97 |
|
2000 |
151 |
99 |
|
2001 |
173 |
107 |
|
2002 |
176 |
116 |
|
2003 |
181 |
122 |
|
2004 |
188 |
128 |
How hazardous products are recycled
| Recyclable |
New product |
| Automotive batteries |
Lead is recycled into new batteries. |
| NiCad and other rechargeable batteries |
Nickel is recycled to make stainless steel for new products. Cadmium is recycled into new batteries. |
| Used motor oil |
Re-blended and used for bunker fuel. |
| Antifreeze |
Recycled into new antifreeze. |
| Solvents |
Re-blended into high-BTU fuel. |
| Oil-based paint |
Liquids re-blended into high-BTU fuel. |
| Fluorescent lights |
The glass is recycled into aggregate and used in concrete. The aluminum parts are used to make other aluminum products. The mercury is used in other mercury-containing products. |
Household hazardous waste customers
|
|
|
NE Tacoma HHW
Event Customers** |
|
1994* |
5,505 |
|
|
1995 |
6,253 |
|
|
1996 |
6,800 |
|
|
1997 |
7,291 |
|
|
1998 |
8,082 |
166 |
|
1999 |
7,434 |
197 |
|
2000 |
7,656 |
196 |
|
2001 |
8,307 |
245 |
|
2002 |
10,328 |
281 |
|
2003 |
7,828 |
300 |
|
2004 |
9,181 |
242 |
* City of Tacoma signed an agreement with Pierce County to accept its household hazardous waste.
** Solid Waste Management provides a weeklong mobile collection event in Northeast Tacoma.