The Phoenix City Council recently approved the implementation of a 6-month pilot program that will allow Phoenix solid waste customers to schedule a home pickup of their household hazardous waste (HHW) materials.
The HHW Home Pickup Pilot Program will be managed by the Phoenix Public Works Department in partnership with Kary Environmental Services, a local company that offers professional collection and handling of hazardous waste materials. Public Works is responsible for the proper collection, diversion and disposal of trash and recyclable materials from more than 400,000 Phoenix residential customers.
“The HHW Home Pickup Pilot Program is another example of the ways the city of Phoenix is adapting to the realities of COVID-19 while still providing crucial services. This home pickup program makes it easy for residents to properly dispose of hazardous materials, including things like batteries and paint,” says Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “We expect this effort will result in up to 700 tons of waste diverted from landfills annually. I’m proud that Phoenix can provide this common sense service at no additional cost to residents.”
To participate in the program and schedule a pickup, solid waste residential customers who wish to dispose of HHW materials—such as paints, aerosols, batteries, electronics and chemicals—need to remember three simple steps:
- Check acceptable HHW materials list by visiting phoenix.gov/publicworks/HHW. The list is extensive and details the maximum quantities for accepted chemicals, paints and some electronics, per scheduled collection.
- Schedule a home pick-up online at phoenix.gov/publicworks/HHW or by calling 602-262-6251. Residents may schedule a pickup during the last two weeks of every other month. Actual collection of the materials will take place the following month.
- Place properly contained, sealed and labeled HHW materials at a visible and accessible area next to your garage or front door on the scheduled pickup date. This is important for safety purposes. Do not place HHW materials at the curb or on the sidewalk.
“During these difficult times, it’s important for the City of Phoenix to provide vital services to our residents in a safe, physically distanced way,” says Vice Mayor Thelda Williams, chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation subcommittee. “By implementing home pickups for household hazardous waste materials, the Public Works department is meeting this need, while also ensuring proper disposal of chemicals and toxic wastes that could harm families and the environment.”
There is no additional cost to request a home pickup for solid waste residential customers. The program is already included as part of the solid waste monthly rate. For the 6-month duration of the pilot program, each solid waste customer/household is entitled to one free HHW pick-up. Additionally, the current HHW Alternative Drop-off program, implemented in April 2020, will remain available at no cost to Phoenix solid waste customers.
On average, Phoenix’s HHW collection program diverts approximately 500-700 tons of HHW materials from the landfill.
