What are "Restricted Trash Items" and 
How Can We Properly Dispose of Them?

Various state and federal laws prohibit inclusion of a number of waste items bound for landfills, including -- but NOT limited to -- tires, waste oil, lead acid batteries, propane tanks, many light bulbs, smoke detectors, ceramics (toilets, sinks, etc.), medicines (they should NEVER be disposed of in the toilet, sink or trash), and other hazardous materials (non-latex paint, oils, gasoline, solvents, pesticides, etc.). If you are ever in doubt, contact the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility for a determination. 

NOTE: Beginning July 1, 2016 the El Paso County Household Hazardous Waste Facility could no longer accept medications of any type. Because of a change in state law, the only participants in the Colorado Household Medication Take-Back Program are now law enforcement agencies, or a DEA-registered location of a retail pharmacy or a hospital/clinic with an on-site pharmacy which has been authorized to collect controlled substances. There are currently only two local sites open to the public and authorized for collection of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, but others may be added:
  • The nearest authorized location is the Walgreens at 3480 N. Academy Boulevard. They will take medications in pill form (no liquids or ointments) at a disposal bin located at their Pharmacy. This is available 24-7. 
  • The second location is the Penrose Hospital Pharmacy at 2222 N. Nevada Avenue. They are open 9-5 weekdays only and closed on holidays.
Active and retired military persons have one other option. The Air Force Academy Pharmacy located in the USAFA Community Center has a dropbox for household medications. The pharmacy is generally open from 8:30 - 5:30 on weekdays, and closed on weekends, Federal holidays and "command-designated family days."

You can check for other drop-off locations at this site.

In addition, effective July 1, 2013, Colorado law banned all electronics from landfills. Thus our commercial waste collection providers can no longer pick up our used electronics as trash. Waste electronic devices include television sets, computer central processing units, computer monitors, peripherals, printers, fax machines, laptops, notebooks, ultra books, net books, electronic tablets, DVD players, VCRs, radios, stereos, video game consoles and video display devices with viewing screens greater than 4 diagonal inches. Electronics must be recycled at an approved recycling center. A few local electronics recyclers are listed below. Please contact businesses for availability, hours and pricing BEFORE taking electronics in to be recycled:
Please note that the El Paso County HHWF does not charge to recycle electronics, chemicals, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and other items that we are not legally allowed to include in our residential trash pickups. Of all the other businesses listed above, only Western Scrap Processing advertises that they pay for electronics waste rather than charging to recycle them.

Also, please note that new/usable household chemicals and paints are available FREE at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

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