76.4 Tons of Household Hazardous Wastes Recycled at MRWF in 2024

County reports on annual collection of household hazardous waste

information released

The Chelan County Moderate Risk Waste Facility continues to see growth in the amount of household hazardous waste it is safely disposing of or recycling.

In 2024, the facility squeaked out a new record, taking in 76.4 tons of household hazardous waste. In 2023, the facility took in more than 74.3 tons. The facility welcomed 2,190 visitors last year, for an average of 70 pounds of waste dropped off per household.

Annual tracking shows that latex paint is the most popular waste dropped off at the facility, with 54,494 pounds collected last year.

Other top drop-offs were: 27,000 pounds of used oil; 12,297 pounds of oil-based paints; 9,849 pounds of toxic flammable liquids (liquid pesticides, automotive fluids, linseed oil); 9,257 pounds of paint-related flammable liquids; 8,800 pounds of flammable liquids (gas, diesel and kerosene) and 8,330 pounds of antifreeze.

The majority of the material collected is recycled, as opposed to being used as an energy resource or incinerated. In 2024, 69 percent of the material was recycled, compared to 38 percent in 2020. Last year, 22 percent was used as an energy resource and only 5 percent was incinerated.

About 4 percent of the material dropped off is only partially used and in good, clean condition. It is placed on a free reuse cart.

People are encouraged to take a look through the cart, which includes everything from spray paint to motor oil to household pesticides, and take something home to use.

If you haven’t made a visit to the Moderate Risk Waste Facility, make it a goal to stop in this year with your household hazardous wastes. (The facility is free to county residents.) Spring cleaning is a good time to visit the facility!

Learn more on our website.