San Juan County is gearing up for its annual hazardous waste round-up collection events, providing our community with a crucial opportunity to safely and legally dispose of poisonous, flammable, corrosive, or other hazardous chemicals.

“Over the last six months, the Lopez and Orcas solid waste facilities have both experienced alarming incidents where hazardous chemicals interacted, leading to dangerous reactions and the temporary closure of the facilities. It is paramount that both residents and businesses prioritize responsible disposal of hazardous waste to prevent such unsafe situations,” said Katie Fleming, Solid Waste Coordinator within the County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship.

Household collection events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the solid waste facilities on San Juan (May 4), Lopez (May 11), and Orcas Islands (June 1). An event will also be hosted on Decatur Island on June 15, with the location and time to be announced at a later date.

This year’s roundup offers households the opportunity to dispose of up to 25 gallons of hazardous waste free of charge. Waste must be contained in containers no larger than five gallons. The disposal costs are being paid by the San Juan County Solid Waste Program and the Washington Department of Ecology.

The business collection event on San Juan Island will take place on May 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. Additionally, businesses have the option to participate in the events on other islands. Pre-registration is required for businesses across all islands and must be completed by April 19. For registration details and inquiries, please reach out to Katie at 360-762-5821 or via email at katief@sanjuancountywa.gov.

For more information and details regarding accepted materials at the events, please visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/351/Hazardous-Waste.