There are a number of problems that can occur when we discard hazardous household waste using common disposal methods. Recommendations for proper disposal will depend upon both the particular type of waste and the waste disposal options available in your community.

Local ordinances vary. Landfills may or may not accept certain hazardous household products. They also may vary on how they want the product to arrive at the landfill. For example, one landfill may want you to solidify (air-dry) paint and wrap the container. Another landfill may want paint handled a different way. In addition, waste water treatment plants may not allow certain liquids to be poured down the drain. If you have any questions, call your landfill, local waste water treatment company, local waste management office or the Extension Home Economics Agent at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service center in your county.

Click on the links below to find out more about the recommended disposal methods for hazardous household waste.

• Don't pour it down the drain.
• Don't pour it in ditches, storm drains or gutters.
• Don't burn it.
• Don't dump it or bury it.
• Throw it in the trash (with special treatment).
• Flush a very small amount - no more than a cup - down the drain with plenty of water.
• Follow the label instructions.
• Recycle.
• Save for a collection day.

Be a good citizen. Use and dispose of hazardous household waste responsibly. Call your County Extension Home Economics Agent or the local waste management agency, water treatment plant or landfill if you have questions. Make sure the disposal method you use is a safe one so that the hazardous waste does not contaminate your drinking water.

Improper disposal may allow these chemicals to contaminate soil and/or water.

Emergency First Aid:

Poison Control Center, 1-800 672-1697
To report products that have harmed you:
U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, 1-800-638-2772
Household Products Disposal Council, 1-202-659-5535.

Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Disposal

Buncombe County accepts household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronics every Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at a special drop-off area at the Landfill. (Excluding Fridays around a holiday)

HHW is closed on Fridays around a holiday, please call the landfill ahead of time at 250-5462 if there is a holiday coming up and you want to know if it will be open or not.

Each week, we accept electronics from residents at no charge. Businesses will also be able to drop off electronics, but they will be charged a fee of 30 cents per pound.

The following items must be separated out of loads and brought to the electronics recycling area:

• Computers (monitors, CPU’s, keyboards)
• Calculators
• Copiers
• Fax Machines
• VCR’s & DVD Players
• Telephones
• Stereos
• Televisions
• Cell Phones
• Video cameras

Household Hazardous Waste is also accepted on Fridays:

• Paint and paint related items such as water sealer, paint thinners, enamels,polyurethane, and flammable liquids (such as gas and kerosene) will be charged at $2.00 per gallon. (20 gallon limit per week.)
• There is no charge for pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, motor oil, antifreeze and lead acid batteries.
• No hazardous wastes from businesses will be accepted.
• Bio-Hazardous materials, radioactive materials and explosives are NOT accepted at any time.

Recycling Price List

Television and electronics can be recycled at the landfill on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program.
For household quantities from residents of the county:

Businesses are permitted to recycle telelvisions and computer equipment at the landfill’s HHW
The following fees apply for businesses:

Contact Info

If you have any questions, please contact the Solid Waste Office at 250-5460 or the Landfill at (828) 250-5462.

Fluorescent Bulb Recycling

Residents can drop off used compact and regular fluorescent light bulbs at any of the following participating municipal and volunteer fire departments:

• Beaverdam - 450 Beaverdam Road
• Black Mountain - 106 Montreat Road
• Enka-Candler - 85 Pisgah Highway
• Fairview VFD - 1586 Charlotte Highway
• Reems Creek - 730 Reems Creek Road
• Reynolds - 235 Charlotte Highway
• Skyland - 9 Miller Road
• Swannanoa - 103 South Avenue
• Weaverville - 3 Monticello Road

City of Asheville Fire Departments

• Station 2 on Livingston Street - 415 S French Broad Avenue
• Station 11 at - 7 Rocky Ridge Road near Biltmore Square Mall

Mercury containing fluorescent lights can be recycled at the landfill on Fridays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm during the HHW program.

For household quantities from residents of the county:

Maximum of 20 bulbs per month.

Businesses are permitted to recycle bulbs at the landfill’s HHW ONLY with a 20 bulb limit per month. BUSINESSES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED FROM DROPPING BULBS OFF AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. The fees for business bulb recycling is:

If you have broken fluorescent lamps they are also accepted.

Other Options

Citizens can take discarded and "broken CFL's in a sealed bag" to either Lowe's or Home Depot. Please note that the broken CFL must be in a sealed bag in order for them to accept it.

• Please note: if any of your bulbs are broken please use protective gear like rubber gloves and eye protection and use a wet paper towel to clean up the the debris. DO NOT sweep or vacuum up the debris. It will cause material to be dispersed into the air. Place the contents in a ziplock bag, wipe the area with a wet paper towel or cloth and bring the bag to the Fire Station.
• Please make sure the broken bulb and towel are sealed in the plastic bag when brought into the Fire Station. Ventilate the room where the lamp was broken.
• When the unit is broken the mercury is released. It is released as a vapor and there will be very little left in the powder.
• 100% of these lamps are recycled.

If you have questions or need assistance please call 250-5460 or 250-5462 for information.

Contact

Jerry Mears
Landfill Manager
p. 828.250.5462

Address
81 Panther Branch Road
Alexander, NC 28701

Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(loads requiring more than 30 minutes to unload must be in the landfill by 4:00 p.m.)

Saturday
8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
(loads requiring more than 30 minutes to unload must be in the landfill by 12:00 p.m.)