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Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
What is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)?
Many products commonly used every day to clean and repair our homes, maintain our vehicles, and take care of our lawns contain hazardous components – ingredients that are corrosive, toxic, flammable, reactive and/or physically or environmentally hazardous. If these products are not properly used, stored, and disposed of, they present a hazard to both our health and our environment.
Reading the label of household products is the best way to identify if it contains a hazardous ingredient. Look to see if it is marked with one of the following terms:
Toxic: Poisonous or causes long-term illness
Reactive: Can explode when exposed to heat, water, or shock
Flammable: Ignites or burns easily
Corrosive: Eats through materials, such as acid
Others: Warning, Danger, Caution, Poison, Keep out of reach of children, Dispose of properly, Use with adequate ventilation.
Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Responsibly
Household hazardous waste (HHW) must be disposed of properly to protect the environment. HHW discarded in the trash contaminates landfills, causing soil and water pollution and expensive cleanup. HHW dumped on the ground contaminates ground and surface waters, as the soil does not filter hazardous chemicals away. HHW poured into storm drains goes directly into our lakes and rivers. HHW should not be emptied into household drains, as wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not designed to process hazardous waste.
The Environmental Office hosts two Household Hazardous Waste Collections each year that are free for Lac qui Parle County residents. The spring collection is held at the County Highway Garage in Madison, and the fall collection is held at the County Highway Shop just south of Dawson.
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HHW Collection Events:
Spring 2025
Wednesday, May 14th (3:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
Madison County Highway Garage
(306 6th Ave South, Madison)
Fall 2025
Wednesday, September 10th (3:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
Dawson County Highway Shop
(1792 295th Avenue, Dawson)
*These events are free for Lac qui Parle County residents.
What CAN be thrown away or poured down the drain?
This is a great question that depends on what the chemical is. The label will usually advise as to how to discard any remaining material.
As a general rule, if the container states “Danger” or “Warning”, it should be brought to the HHW collection and NOT poured down the drain. If the container states “Caution” or “Irritant”, it may still be considered HHW depending on the chemicals it contains.
Some items, such as soap or detergents are most likely not considered HHW and can be disposed of down the drain with plenty of water.
However, if you have a septic system, it’s best not to dispose of any chemicals down the drain. There are important bacteria present that break down the contents of the system and chemicals will damage their ability to do this.
If you are connected to the city’s sewer system, please keep in mind that the wastewater treatment plant can only neutralize acids and bases, anything chemical that is toxic (pesticides, etc.) does NOT get treated and is released into the groundwater as is.
If in doubt, please bring the item to an HHW collection event for proper disposal. You may also drop off any items year-round at our Regional Facility in Willmar. Both of these options are free for Lac qui Parle County residents.
Please keep items in the original container for easier classification of chemical types, this also helps them to be able to offer the items for reuse at our Regional Facility. For more information, please click HERE.
Batteries
Lac qui Parle County Household Hazardous Waste accepts any household-use batteries, both rechargeable and non-rechargeable, during our free Spring and Fall HHW events.
In addition, during business hours, you may bring any rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries (weight limit of 11 pounds each) to the Call2Recycle collection boxes, located in the East entrance of the Lac qui Parle Courthouse in Madison. This free Call2Recycle program also accepts cell phones, tablets, and iPods. The battery section of electronic vaping devices is also accepted, but only if the battery can be separated from the rest of the vaping device. If the battery cannot be separated, the Call2Recycle program cannot accept it.
How to recycle single-use batteries (earth911.com)
Regional Facility Option
Lac qui Parle County residents may also bring Hazardous Wastes and Usable Hazardous Products year-round, free of charge, to our Regional Facility:
KANDIYOHI COUNTY REGIONAL
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY
1404 SW 22nd Street
Willmar, MN 56201
320-231-3587
Hours
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday thru Friday
Closed Saturdays
For more information about Recycling and Problem Material Disposal in our Southwest Minnesota Region, please call the Lac qui Parle County Environmental Office at (320) 598-3132.