Stearns County’s Household Hazardous Waste mobile collection unit will soon begin its spring/summer collections. The unit travels to cities around Stearns County collecting hazardous products homeowners no longer want.
The unit will stop for 14 scheduled events in 2023, including five out-of-county as follows:
April
• Saturday, April 29, 8-11 a.m. – Paynesville, Civic Arena.
May
• Wednesday, May 17, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Richmond, River Lakes Arena.
• Wednesday, May 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Melrose, Fire and Ambulance Station.
June
• Thursday, June 1, 3-7 p.m. – Milaca, TBD.
• Thursday, June 15, 3-7 p.m. – Wahkon, Mille Lacs Public Works.
• Monday, June 20, 2-5 p.m. – Clear Lake, City/Fire Hall.
• Monday, June 27, 2-5 p.m. – Santiago, Township Hall.
August
• Wednesday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m.-
2 p.m. – Sauk Centre, Hockey Arena.
• Wednesday, Aug. 16, 9:30-11:30 a.m. – Holdingford, Holdingford School.
• Wednesday, Aug. 16, 1-3 p.m. – Albany, Our Savior Lutheran Church.
• Wednesday, Aug. 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m. – Greenwald, Greenwald Rec Building.
• Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1-3 p.m. – Eden Valley, Public Works.
September
• Saturday, Sept. 9, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Foley, Benton County Public Works.
• Saturday, Sept. 23, 8-11 a.m. – Kimball, A.M. Maus and Son.
This is a chance for residents to get rid of all those unsafe or nuisance products lying around the house such as paints, stains, fluorescent bulbs, car seats, pesticides, cleaners, batteries, old ammunition, lead tackle, Christmas lights, sharps, poisons, roofing tar, fuels, automotive fluids, sealers, garden chemicals, pool chemicals, adhesives, aerosols, solvents, mothballs, mercury, and more. Products can be disposed of at no charge.
Items that cannot be accepted through the Household Hazardous Waste Program include used motor oil, antifreeze, explosives, furniture, household garbage, tires, medical waste, appliances, or any other unknown products. Also not accepted is business waste. These collections are designed to collect home, not business products.
Not sure what to do with an item? Use Stearns County’s Waste Wizard app. Search the product of interest and it will tell you how to get rid of it, give local options for quick and easy disposal, and even provide direction to a facility. Either download the Stearns County Waste Wizard App or go to the Stearns County website at stearnscountymn.gov/682.
For those who cannot make one of the scheduled mobile collection times, the Household Hazardous Waste Facility located at 3601 5th Street South in Waite Park accepts products year-round. That facility is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m. along with the second and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m.-noon. The drop-off is 100% hands-free for the customer. Simply pull into the drop-off bay and staff will remove all the items from the rear of your vehicle.
Information on the Household Hazardous Waste facility and mobile unit can be found on the Stearns County web site at stearnscountymn.gov.