Liquid Waste

There are many things that are forbidden from entering the landfill. Tires, appliances, lead acid batteries, asbestos, mattresses, and box springs are some. But the item that generates the most questions every week is liquids. Douglas County residents want to know what to do with their liquid wastes.

What constitutes a liquid? Well, by statute, a liquid is any material that will pass through a paint filter. So that means paint, oil, pesticides, herbicides, antifreeze, blood, or anything else that is fluid in nature. The reason this material is forbidden from the landfill is not its toxicity, but rather its fluid state.

All material that enters Douglas County's solid waste system must be managed at various levels. There is you the generator, the hauler of the waste, and the County who manages the transfer stations and the landfill itself. At each of these stages, fluids and liquids can escape. When this happens any number of situations can present themselves from the benign to full on ecologic disasters.

You as the generator of the waste are solely responsible for the material until it enters the landfill. Then the responsibility is ours collectively. So it is best to manage the waste appropriately and safely.

Here in Douglas County, we do not have a collection system for most liquid wastes. We have had, on occasion, the opportunity to host local collection events for hazardous waste, but the last one came in 2005. That particular funding stream has gone dry. We do however have some opportunities and tips.

MOTOR OIL: This can be taken to any of our local transfer stations and recycled for free. Residents are limited to 5 gallons per day. Please make sure you drain your filters as best as you can and dispose of them and the oil containers in the trash.

COOKING OIL: This can be taken to any Eugene Chemical (EC) black container located around the county. They can be found near and by restaurants. There is a very public container located in the parking lot across the street from the Roseburg Post Office downtown.

PAINT: Find someone who wants to use it as it was intended. Otherwise, open it up, let it harden and dispose of it in the trash. To expedite the process stir in kitty litter.

HERBICIDE/PESTICIDE/CLEANERS/CHEMICALS/FUELS: Use it up as intended and labeled or find someone to do the same. Or you may contact Lane County Solid Waste to make an appointment for disposal in Lane County at their Household Hazardous Waste facility. This is free of charge with certain limitations. You may contact them at (541) 682-3111.

Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle to "Trash Douglas County Less!" For more information you may contact me at 440-4350.