News

Read news articles from the King County Hazardous Waste Program.

2026

February 3, 2026 — Hazardous Waste Program’s 2025 Wastemobile Season Recap
January 30, 2026 — The 2026 Wastemobile season is here
January 9, 2026 — The people behind our program: Turning data, research, and a passion for prevention into real change

2025

December 18, 2025 — Got old and broken holiday lights? Here’s how you can recycle them.
December 16, 2025 — Auburn Wastemobile Closed Dec. 20-21
December 16, 2025 — New study finds Lake Washington is getting clearer amid population growth. Here’s why.
November 14, 2025 — It’s peak battery season: Here’s how to safely dispose of batteries
October 30, 2025 — Help protect salmon by responsibly storing and disposing of hazardous materials
October 24, 2025 — Natural fall gardening tips to set you up for a great spring
October 15, 2025 — Storm season ready: Keep hazardous products from making a big mess
September 25, 2025 — During wildfire season, protect your indoor air quality too. Here’s how.
September 18, 2025 — Helping small businesses make safer choices for workers and the environment
September 11, 2025 — Everyday chemicals still lead Poison Center calls in Washington state
September 8, 2025 — Carnation/Duvall Wastemobile rescheduled for Nov. 1
September 4, 2025 — Propane safety 101: What to do with your tank after summer
August 21, 2025 — Community-guided research explores new tool to spot signs of PFAS in everyday products
August 18, 2025 — Carnation/Duvall Wastemobile event cancelled
August 14, 2025 — 35 years of change: How the Haz Waste Program has made King County cleaner, safer, and healthier
August 7, 2025 — Don’t trash vapes: Safely get rid of them at our haz waste sites
July 24, 2025 — Combat rising grocery prices by learning home gardening skills
July 17, 2025 — Through the lens of the camera: Using photos to understand why safe disposal matters to community members
July 11, 2025 — Bridging arts and environmental justice to address hazardous waste
July 3, 2025 — How to make sure your car wash is eco-friendly
June 25, 2025 — Toxic chemicals may be hiding in makeup – a discovery made thanks to community engagement in local research
June 19, 2025 — Research partnership highlights role of safer degreasers in protecting auto shop workers’ health
June 12, 2025 — West Seattle Bee Festival raises awareness of bees and importance of natural yard care
June 5, 2025 — Learn about the Haz Waste Program in our 2024 Annual Report
May 28, 2025 — How the Haz Waste Program partners with property managers to keep residents safe
May 15, 2025 — Come visit a hazardous waste disposal facility
May 8, 2025 — Environmental wins and work ahead: 2025 Washington State legislative session recap
May 5, 2025 — Earth Month was epic—let’s keep the momentum going!
May 1, 2025 — Mental Health Awareness Month: The intersection of hazardous waste, mental health, economic status, and wealth in Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color
April 22, 2025 — Happy Earth Week 2025: Small actions, big impact
April 17, 2025 — Maple Valley Earth Day Fair 2025: A "one-stop shop" for all things sustainable in southeast King County
April 14, 2025 — The plants in your yard have a story to tell. The Garden Hotline’s Rosemarie Cullinane is listening
April 10, 2025 — Safer cleaning recipes just in time for spring cleaning!
April 3, 2025 — Earth Week 2025: "Small Actions, Big Impact"
March 27, 2025 — Hazardous waste disposal for businesses: What to know before you go
March 12, 2025 — Hazardous Waste Management Program encourages King County residents: ‘Don’t give up on your electronics’
March 7, 2025 — From waste to art: Haz Waste workshops with sculptor Marita Dingus
February 18, 2025 — King County makes it shockingly easy to keep batteries out of your trash
February 13, 2025 — "I can’t breathe": From a Black-led movement to confronting hazardous exposures in King County
February 6, 2025 — 2025 Wastemobile Schedule
January 30, 2025 — Looking back on the 2024 Wastemobile season
January 23, 2025 — What are PERC and TCE, and why did the EPA ban them?
January 16, 2025 — Don't let hazardous chemicals frame your next art project!
January 10, 2025 — 2025 Washington State legislative preview

2024

December 19, 2024 — What are PFAS? How can I avoid "forever chemicals" in my home?
December 12, 2024 — Stay safe when degreasing auto and machine parts
December 5, 2024 — Make your holiday gift shopping merrier with safer toy shopping resources
November 21, 2024 — The unique hazardous waste disposal needs in rural and unincorporated communities of King County
November 12, 2024 — Fall further into fall and follow these tips for safety inside and outside the home
November 7, 2024 — Movember
November 1, 2024 — Daylight Saving ends November 3. Turn your clocks back and replace and safely dispose old batteries.
October 28, 2024 — New resource launched to help King County residents fight PFAS exposure
October 22, 2024 — Changes coming to the Haz Waste Program website at the end of 2024
October 17, 2024 — Is my stuff hazardous waste? Here’s how to find out.
October 1, 2024 — Growing blue oyster mushrooms: Garden Hotline workshop teaches fungi fundamentals
September 24, 2024 — Haz Waste Program wins 2024 EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award
September 18, 2024 — Discover the Heron’s Nest: A hidden gem of community, culture, and conservation
September 5, 2024 — King County businesses are switching to safer degreasers. Here’s how the Haz Waste Program can help.
August 27, 2024 — Stay learning, stay safe with this hazardous waste back-to-school guide
August 12, 2024 — Partnership with Seattle’s Cleveland High School builds hazardous waste awareness for years to come
August 7, 2024 — It's Lazy Mom’s Day! Relax, recharge, and remove hazardous waste.
July 23, 2024 — Embrace the beauty of a brown lawn this summer
July 18, 2024 — Swimming safely: Reducing hazardous waste for cleaner beaches, lakes, and rivers
July 10, 2024 — The lifecycle of hazardous waste: What happens to a hazardous product after you drop it off?
June 19, 2024 —Family-friendly fun for the summer
June 18, 2024 — Building bridges: How the Haz Waste Program harnesses experience and partnerships for greater impact
June 6, 2024 — 6 short hazardous waste-related films to add to your summer watch list
May 23, 2024 — Leave no trace, dispose of hazardous waste: A responsible camper’s guide
May 6, 2024 — Compost: Nature’s Climate Champion
April 29, 2024 — Historic law to limit lead poisoning the result of community-centered initiative
April 22, 2024 — Hungry? Grow, graze, or go to get groceries without worrying about hazardous exposures.
April 13, 2024 — Integrating equity into traditional research approaches
April 11, 2024 — Using grants, rebates, and rainwater to help your garden flourish
April 3, 2024 — Keep your hazardous products stored safely at home and while transporting them. Here’s how.
March 19, 2024 — Stride into spring gardening with healthy soil and native plants
March 8, 2024 — 2024 Washington Legislative Session Recap: Major Environmental Wins Reduce Residents’ Risk to Toxic Exposures
February 16, 2024 — Celebrate National Battery Day by learning how to properly dispose of your batteries
February 14, 2024 — Acts of service: the love language of hazardous waste
February 8, 2024 — 2024 Wastemobile Schedule
February 7, 2024 — Choosing safer hair products can be tough. Here’s how these salon owners do it.
January 25, 2024 — January 2024 Washington State Legislative Session Update
January 8, 2024 — Removing hazardous grooming products and taking the perfect pet photo
January 1, 2024 — Goal setting for a new, greener year

2023

December 13, 2023 — Winter Wellness: Tips on a cleaner, less toxic chilly season
December 12, 2023 — Recapping 4 intriguing hazardous waste questions from our customers
December 11, 2023 — Clearing hazardous waste before holiday hosting and traveling
December 5, 2023 — Happy World Soil Day!
December 1, 2023 — Tips for safely managing holiday waste
November 8, 2023 — Take charge of your old batteries
October 9, 2023 — Celebrating the history that shaped our region: Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 3, 2023 — Haz Waste Program named EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year for 7th year in a row
August 9, 2023 — Choose Your Own (Outdoor) Adventure: Haz Waste Edition
August 8, 2023 — Laura Matter runs the Garden Hotline. Here’s what she wants every King County gardener to know.
August 2, 2023 — August is National Black Business Month
June 29, 2023 — Fireworks – Safety and Proper Disposal
June 28, 2023 — Spanish-language campaign promotes safer alternatives to bleach
June 22, 2023 — Are toxic chemicals hiding in your makeup? Here’s how to find safer cosmetics.
June 7, 2023 — Local LGBTQ leaders combat climate change with community-centered respect and care for the land
June 6, 2023 — Helping small businesses work safer and smarter
April 26, 2023 — These common household products contain hazardous chemicals – and thanks to legislation passing in Olympia, local residents have new protections
April 11, 2023 — Earth, wind, (water), and fire: How hazardous waste impacts the elements, our environment, and our health
February 6, 2023 — How Black activists brought us environmental justice – and changed the conversation about racial equity
January 10, 2023 — January 2023 Washington State Legislative Session Update

2022

December 6, 2022 — Working with BIPOC businesses to safely manage hazardous waste
October 5, 2022 — In-home investigations protect families from lead exposure
October 5, 2022 — 4 ways to fend off flood risk during flood season
September 1, 2022 — Natural garden and yard care for the autumn months
August 10, 2022 — Take a virtual tour of the Wastemobile
August 10, 2022 — Out and about on the water? Here are safe disposal tips for boating and floating.
July 6, 2022 — Safe waste disposal tips for summer BBQs and picnics
May 11, 2022 — Helping families reduce exposure to lead
May 11, 2022 — 3 ways to manage moss without chemicals
April 5, 2022 — Take our 'toxic' personality quiz
April 1, 2022 — Hazardous Waste Program 10-Year Management Plan Update
March 3, 2022 — Making 'scents' of laundry products and their fragrances
March 2, 2022 — Chemical-free ways to grow gardens and lawns
February 2, 2022 — Secure Medicine Return: From King County to statewide program
January 5, 2022 — The e-waste lurking in your junk drawer
January 3, 2022 — King County’s most frequently asked questions about hazardous waste

2020 to 2021

2021

December 8, 2021 — How to watch your waste this winter driving season
October 21, 2021 — Identifying sources of lead poisoning
September 7, 2021 — Going 'green' in home renovations
August 3, 2021 — Eco-friendly, affordable tips for back-to-school shopping
July 6, 2021 — How to make sure your car wash is eco-friendly
July 2, 2021 — Tips for a clutter-free garage or storage room
June 1, 2021 — Creating a sustainable garden home for pollinators
June 1, 2021 — Keeping freshwater beaches fresh starts with you. Here's how to help.
May 4, 2021 — Keep hazardous chemicals out of the mix when hiking and camping
May 3, 2021 — Finding effective and environmentally-friendly sunscreen
March 31, 2021 — Nix noxious weeds with natural yard care
January 5, 2021 — Salmon deaths in urban streams linked to tires
January 3, 2021 — Precautions to take when bringing haz waste to a collection site

2020

December 1, 2020 — Explosives and safety at our collection sites
November 5, 2020 — Prepare your home or business for floods

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