Extra safety measures will be in place. Please be patient, unloading may take a few extra minutes. Have all your household hazardous waste in the truck bed or trunk or hatchback of your car, not the passenger compartment. And please remain in your vehicle.

The first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event of the New Year will be held at the Columbia County Transfer Station on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Transfer Station is located at 1601 Railroad Avenue in St. Helens. Various toxic and unsafe materials can be dropped off at no cost.

Items must be in containers of less than five (5) gallons and should be secured safely during transport. Trained household hazardous waste technicians will unload materials from your vehicle.

Examples of acceptable items:

• fireworks and flares
• gas / diesel / fuels / motor oil / antifreeze
• lawn and garden chemicals
• herbicides and pesticides
• pool and spa chemicals
• light ballasts—please remove from light fixtures
• fluorescent tubes
• art and hobby chemicals
• solvents and thinners
• items containing mercury
• propane and compressed gas cylinders
• batteries - automotive, rechargeable, button, alkaline batteries
• cleaners and detergents
• poisons
• paint and paint products (latex and acrylic paint, oil-based paint, enamel, stains, lacquers, shellacs, varnishes, primers, etc.)
• cooking oil
• medical sharps in OSHA-approved, puncture-proof containers
• ammunition

Unwanted paint, used motor oil, and used cooking oil can be disposed of free of charge at any time during the Transfer Station’s regular business hours. The normally-charged disposal of automotive batteries, antifreeze, and fluorescent tubes at the Transfer Station is also free during this event.

Medical sharps in a sealed, self-closing, puncture-proof, OSHA-approved container are received, at no cost, at the Transfer Station Scale House during business hours. Free sharps containers are available from the Transfer Station Scale House.

The Columbia County Sheriff accepts expired or unwanted medication at 901 Port Ave., St. Helens. They are open 7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Place items in the MedReturn collection box.

The county will host six more household hazardous waste events in 2022, the next three events are April 23rd in Vernonia, May 14th in Rainier and June 11th at the Transfer Station in St Helens. Please check the Columbia County website for further updates https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/SolidWaste/hhw-schedule

For more information, contact Kathy Boutin-Pasterz phone at 503-397-7259 or by email at kathleen.boutin-pasterz@columbiacountyor.gov.

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ABOUT COLUMBIA COUNTY’S SOLID WASTE PROGRAM

Columbia County plans, organizes, and directs recycling, reuse, waste reduction, and household hazardous waste management programs throughout its 657 square-mile area. The county operates a transfer station in St. Helens and administers the solid waste collection events within the unincorporated areas of the county.