Household Hazardous Waste
Vouchers are available for the safe disposal of old paint, used pool chemicals, and other household hazards. The vouchers allow City of Georgetown residential utility customers with active accounts to dispose of household hazards at the Williamson County Recycle Center at 495 CR 156, which is northeast of Georgetown on FM 971.
The vouchers, available to residential utility customers with active accounts, replace the annual collection days sponsored by the City in the past. Vouchers will cover 100 percent disposal costs for in-City customers and 50 percent of disposal costs for out-of-City customers. One voucher per household may be requested every three months.
Vouchers are available online at billing.georgetown.org/paying-your-bill for customers who have signed up for online account access. Online access is not the same as automatic bank or credit card draft so please make sure you register your account in order to request service. When you get to the online payment page, click on the “Submit Service Request” link. You will be prompted to indicate the “Type of Service.” Select “Household Hazardous Waste Voucher.” After submitting the request, please allow up to two business days for processing. You will receive email confirmation of your request with an attachment containing the voucher, map, and hours of operation in pdf format.
You may also pick up a voucher in-person at the Utility Billing office located in the Georgetown Municipal Complex at 300-1 Industrial Avenue, or at the Collection Station located at 250 W.L. Walden Drive. Please bring a recent City of Georgetown utility bill and a photo ID.
Vouchers must be presented at the Williamson County Recycle Center when disposing of products.
The Center will be closed for the following holidays in 2011:
Saturday, May 28th, Memorial Day
Saturday, July 2nd;
Saturday, September 3rd;
Thanksgiving, Sunday, November 20th through Sunday, November 27th;
Christmas, Friday, December 23rd through Sunday, January 1st.
What is household hazardous waste?
Many common products that you use in your home and garden are considered household hazardous waste. Such items should not be placed in your residential trash collection cart or placed at the curb for pickup.
Household hazardous waste products often will be labeled with words such as caution, toxic, poison, corrosive, or danger. Examples of household hazardous waste include:
- Aerosol spray cans
- Antifreeze
- Art and hobby chemicals
- Automotive products
- Fluorescent lights (tubes or CFLs)
- Household cleaners and disinfectants
- Mercury (from thermometers, thermostats)
- Motor oil or transmission fluid
- Paints and stains, especially oil-based
- Pesticides and poisons
- Pool and spa chemicals
- Thinners and solvents
- Vehicle batteries (wet cell)
The items above can be brought to the Williamson County Recycle Center (see below) under the City’s voucher program for household hazardous waste. Neither tires or electronic waste are accepted at the WCRC under this program. Tires may be brought to the City’s Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, Georgetown, TX 78626, 512-930-1715. Fees may apply. For disposal of electronic waste such as computer products and accessories, please see the electronic disposal section.
Household hazardous waste products should never be poured out on the ground, down the drain, or thrown out with regular household garbage. Improper disposal can cause injury from contact or contaminate groundwater and drinking water.
Prepare your materials before transporting them
When you bring household hazardous waste items for disposal, be sure to pack and transport them safely.
- Keep products in original containers, when possible.
- If a container no longer has its original label and you know the contents, label it yourself.
- Don’t mix products together! Dangerous chemical reactions can occur.
- Make sure products are sealed to prevent leaks and spills. If a container is leaking, place it inside another container.
- Carefully pack containers in a sturdy cardboard box.
- Do not store items in plastic bags.
- Transport the items in your vehicle away from all occupants and pets.
Hazardous waste drop-off site
The Williamson County Recycle Center is located at 495 County Road 156 and can be contacted by phone at (512) 864-3240. The center is open by appointment Tuesday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and to the general public on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For additional information, please visit their website www.mytexashhw.com.
CFL Bulbs: Proper Disposal
According to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the amount of mercury in a typical compact fluorescent light bulb is barely enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. However, because of this tiny amount of mercury, they should not be thrown away with household trash.
To safely dispose of a CFL bulb at no cost, bring it to the Home Depot at 1303 Rivery Boulevard in Georgetown. (There is a disposal container near the Returns desk by the entrance.) The IKEA in Round Rock also accepts old CFL bulbs for disposal. For other safe disposal locations, go to earth911.com.
