• What is Household Hazardous Waste?
• Hours & Location
• Materials Accepted
• Unacceptable Materials
• Motor Oil and Oil Filters
• Batteries
• Fluorescent Bulbs
• Sharps (Hypodermic Needles)
• Drop ‘N’ Swap Product Exchange

Residential hazardous waste is accepted from Douglas and Pope County residents at no charge.  Because of State restrictions, business and agriculture wastes are not accepted.  For information on how to contact companies who handle wastes from businesses and agricultural please call 320-763-9340 or 1-800-972-6318.

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Household Hazardous waste (HHW) is any substance containing ingredients that could negatively affect your safety, health or the environment.  Signal words found on hazardous products include poison, danger, warning and caution.  They can be found on a wide range of products, including furniture polish, bleach, antifreeze, insecticides, paint, mothballs and much more.  Also look for indications of hazardous properties on the label.  Such properties are defined by the Environmental Hazards Management Institute as follows:

• Toxic: can cause injury or death if swallowed, absorbed or inhaled
• Flammable: easily catches fire and tends to burn rapidly
• Corrosive: a chemical or its vapors that can cause a material or living tissue to be destroyed
• Explosive: violently bursting when exposed to pressure or heat
• Irritant: causes soreness or swelling of the skin, eyes, mucous membranes or respiratory system

Another hazardous property you may see on a label is reactive.  This means the product contains chemicals that, if combined with certain other substances, could result in hazardous reactions such as gaseous emissions or explosions.

Why can’t I just throw HHW away in the trash?

Dumping unused portions of HHW in the trash or down the drain can cause safety and environmental problems. 

So please act responsibly!  Bring your unwanted HHW to the county’s hazardous waste collection facility located at 2115 S. Jefferson in Alexandria.  It’s free!

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Hours and Location

HHW like pesticides, paint thinners and household cleaning supplies are accepted at Pope Douglas Solid Waste Management:

• Explosives - Shock sensitive materials such as dynamite, ammunition, picric acid, fireworks, and firearms. (Call the Law Enforcement Center at 320-762-8151).
• Pathological wastes
• Pharmaceutical Waste - Please follow this link to learn how to properly dispose of personal medications in your garbage, or call Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management for instructions.

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Used Motor Oil and Oil Filters

Used motor oil and oil filters generated through household use are accepted for disposal at the South end of the Recycling Center.  The used motor oil must be in dumpable containers no larger than five gallons in size.   Crankcase oil, motor oil, gasoline and transmission fluid are also accepted in the oil tank. Contaminated oil or brake fluid must be taken to the HHW Collection Facility.

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Fluorescent Bulbs

Residents and businesses who have Alexandria Light and Power (ALP) or Runestone Electric Association (REA) may dispose of their fluorescent bulbs at Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management free of charge.  Customers of other power companies are not eligible as recycling is paid for by ALP and REA.  Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management manages the program but does not pay any of the fees involved.

Residents with 20 bulbs or less may drop them of Monday – Friday from 8 AM to 12 noon and 1PM – 4 PM.

For further information please call 320-763-9340 or 1-800-972-6318.

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Sharps (hypodermic Needles)

The HHW facility accepts used hypodermic needles from residents who self-medicate.  Many people throw used needles – often called “sharps” – into their regular trash.  Unfortunately, this disposal method puts Pope/Douglas and trash hauler employees at risk from needle sticks.  Instead, we encourage residents to bring used sharps to our facility.  No fees are charged.  Sharps must be brought in an approved sharps container or in an empty laundry detergent container with a screw on lid.  (See instructions below).  Needles brought in any other containers or loose needles will not be accepted.

• Label the empty detergent container:  “Do Not Recycle:  Household Sharps.”
• Put used needles point-first into the container.
• Container should not be more than ½ full of needles and lancets before collection or disposal.
• Keep the cap screwed on the container when not putting in needles.

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Drop ‘N’ Swap Product Exchange

The Product Exchange area is a favorite of many visitors to the Pope/Douglas facility.  Through this program, we offer usable, low-toxicity products under our “Buy none, get one free” policy.

Here’s how it works:  Say you need about half a gallon of latex paint, a little bit of copper cleaner, just enough pesticide to kill a pesky patch of weeds, and stain for a chest of drawers.  There is a good chance that we have those items and more.  Just stop by the HHW Facility, pick up what you want and you’re on your way.  The program is so popular that we have had to put a limit of five gallons on gallons of paint so everyone would have a chance to participate. 

The best way to dispose of chemicals is to use them up as they were originally intended to be used, which is just what this program does.  And, of course, it’s FREE!

The Drop ‘N’ Swap is open during regular hours 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00, Monday through Friday.