Hazardous Waste Disposal

San Juan County and the Washington Department of Ecology conduct annual events to remove toxic materials from our islands and maintain a healthy environment. At the roundup events, individual households and businesses deliver their hazardous materials, where they are securely packaged by trained professionals, barged to the mainland and disposed at specialized facilities. Hazardous products not only pose a higher level of risk to one's household, neighbors, and wildlife, but they often cost more than a green certified product over the time of its use. Please see our Shop Safer handout for more information regarding how to locate safer, greener certified products.

HHW Roundup 2026 Social-title


Round-up Event FAQ

What?   The hazardous waste roundup collection events are our community's opportunity to legally and responsibly dispose of poisonous, flammable, corrosive or other hazardous chemicals.

Why?   Proper disposal protects your health and the health of the workers that handle your waste.  Proper disposal also keeps chemicals out of our drinking water and out of the environment. Remember, waste has to be ferried off the islands and hazardous waste is barged separately for safety. Learn more about the 2024 Orcas Island Hazmat incident here.

When?  

  • Lopez: May 2, Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District, 2419 Fisherman Bay Rd., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Friday Harbor Businesses: May 15 (businesses must register by April 24 by contacting Katie Fleming at katief@sanjuancountywa.gov or 360-762-5821)
  • Friday Harbor Households: May 16, San Juan Transfer Station, 212 Sutton Rd., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Orcas, June 20, Orcas Recycling Services, 3398 Orcas Rd., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (No fuel or paint will be collected - there will be another event on October 3rd when fuel will be accepted. Paint can be brought during regular transfer station business hours.)
  • Waldron Island, September 5, Time and Location TBA

Click here to learn more about the quarterly hazardous waste events held at The Exchange/ORS on Orcas Island.

What can I bring?   Pesticides, fungicides and other poisons, gasoline and other used fuels, wood preservatives, solvents and thinners, pool and photo chemicals, resins, corrosives, degreasers, cleaning products, mercury, rechargeable batteries, propane cylinders (small, camping style), spent fluorescent light tubes and bulbs, and aerosols. 

We encourage you to bring paint eligible for the Paintcare program to the transfer station on any day OTHER than the hazardous waste events. This helps free up capacity at HHW events for other priority items that cannot be dropped off year-round.

What not to bring?   The following are not accepted at the roundup:

  • Flares, explosives, or ammunition. If you need to dispose of these items, please call the Sheriff's Office (360-378-4151) to speak to a deputy about how to dispose of them.   
  • Antifreeze, motor oil (unless the oil is mixed with water or other fuels), and vehicle batteries – recycle at your island’s solid waste facility during regular business hours.  
  • Children or pets.  These are not hazardous waste and we want to keep them and our team safe!
  • BBQ-style propane tanks (please take those to your island's transfer station during their regular operating hours).

Keep It Separate: Do not bring household trash. Make sure HHW items are easy to access and not buried under other materials in your vehicle.

How much will it cost?  There is NO CHARGE for HOUSEHOLDS disposing of 25 gallons or less of hazardous waste (please bring materials in containers that are no larger than 5 gallons). Your disposal costs will be paid by the San Juan County Solid Waste Program and Washington Department of Ecology. BUSINESSES will be charged for their disposal costs, please email Katie at katief@sanjuancountywa.gov to register a business by April 24.