Hazo-Hut

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility

Location: Solid Waste Central Transfer Station
Address: 1411 S. Tower Ave, Centralia, WA 98531
Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm every Wednesday and first and third Saturday of each month or by appointment.
Phone: (360) 740-1221 or (360) 740-1481 (Weekends and Holidays)

Residential Customers

The services of the Hazo Hut are FREE to residential customers! Recycle the following items during operating hours of the Central Transfer Station:

• Used motor oil (includes engine oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, gear oil, and power steering fluid)
• Spent antifreeze
• Car batteries
• Propane tanks (less than 25 gallons in capacity)

Dispose of all other hazard waste items during regular business hours of the Hazo-Hut.

Business Customers

Solid Waste Services is proud to offer a hazardous waste collection program for our conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQG).

To qualify for this program, a business or school must generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per calendar month. The Hazo Hut accepts the same hazardous waste items from businesses and schools as it does from residential customers.

Businesses and schools must fill out a work order prior to bringing any waste to the Hazo-Hut. Fax the work order back to the hazardous waste program coordinator. The coordinator will price each item, total the fees for the work order, and return the work order back to you. After receiving the completed work order it is the business' responsibility to call the hazardous waste program coordinator to schedule an appointment in which to bring in the hazardous waste. The fees are due on day of delivery. Form of payment includes, cash, check, visa, or master card.

special instructions for latex paint

Latex paint has become a very burdensome waste to manage in Washington State. Latex paint is not a hazardous waste. Latex paint is a special waste because it is a liquid. It cannot be disposed of in the garbage. It cannot be disposed of in the waste water treatment system. It cannot be poured down a storm drain. Latex paint is costly to manage at local hazardous waste collection facilities.

Lewis County manages latex paint through a process of remixing. The paint is collected, segregated into colors and mixed in 55-gal drums. The resulting paint is poured into 5 gallons buckets and given away free to the public.

In 2008 over 3400 gallons of latex paint was given away. An additional 1265 gallons was shipped for further processing at a cost of $5000.00. Lastly, over 1500 gallons of unusable latex paint was solidified and disposed of as solid waste. Disposal cost for the solidified latex paint was $3000.00. This is very expensive for the county.

In the future we ask all residential and business customers to manage their own latex paint. Go to the Latex Paint page for more information.

Prescription Medications and over the counter pharmaceuticals

Recent research has concluded that pharmaceuticals are now found in surface and ground waster. These medications, vital to the health and well being of many people, are a cause for concern when they are found in the environment.

Until recently, the accepted procedure was to throw unused medicines in the garbage or flush them down the toilet. The recent studies are concluding that this is not the best disposal method.

In Lewis County, we urge all residents to call the hazardous waste coordinator at 360-740-1221 to find out the correct procedure to dispose of medicines in Lewis County.

You can also visit the site pharmaceuticals to learn more about safe disposal procedures. For a list of pharmacies in Washington State that take back medicines visit the pharmacy website.

items not accepted at the Hazo hut

The following items will not be accepted at the Hazo Hut:

• Empty containers (includes paint cans, aerosol cans, oil containers, antifreeze containers, garden chemical containers) -- Wrap in a garbage bag and dispose of in the garbage.
• Water (in paint cans and buckets and antifreeze containers) -- allow to evaporate
• Rinse water from latex paint brushes and rollers -- allow to evaporate
• Dried paint (latex or oil based), adhesive, tar or asphalt
• Containers of latex paint less than 1/2 full (Remove lids, allow contents to dry, wrap in a garbage bag, dispose of in the garbage)
• Fertilizer -- Apply to lawn or garden or give to a neighbor or local farmer