Where to Recycle

This information will assist you with handling and disposing of hazardous wastes and aid you in recycling materials typically found in and around your home.

Make Sure Recyclables Are Empty, Clean, and Dry

Aluminum

  • Recycling Centers
  • Drop-off Recycling Trailers

Appliances

  • Recycling Centers

Batteries (NI-CD)

  • Recycling Centers
  • Call 2 Recycle

Batteries Auto

  • Recycling Centers

Cardboard

  • Recycling Centers
  • Drop-off Recycling Trailers

Cell Phones

  • Call 2 Recycle

Electronics

Goodwill Industries 620 Grant Road (next to Safeway) East Wenatchee 509-884-1906
Goodwill Industries 830 S Mission Street Wenatchee 509-663-7636

Electronic Waste is collected at no cost at these locations. Acceptable recyclable electronics can be turned in by households, small business, charities, school districts and small government offices. The items are disassembled and the parts are recycled into new, useable items. The acceptable items are: Televisions, computer monitors, desktop computers, laptop computers, scanners, hard drives, zip drives, CD ROMs, mother boards, computer speakers and connecting wires and cables.

Unfortunately, computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice and printers are not included in this program. These items can and should be recycled as well, but may cost you a small fee for recycling. Try to donate them first. If no other alternative exists, it is allowable to dispose of these items in your garbage.

https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Reducing-recycling-waste/Electronics

Big Screen TVs

These can be recycled with Pacific Power Batteries at 742 S Mission Wenatchee. 509-663-6100

Fluorescent Bulbs

  • Recycling Centers

Latex Paint

Residents should be using one of the following methods to dry out latex paint. Once the latex paint has hardened or solidified, place the can with the lid off in your garbage container. The garbage hauler needs to see that the paint has been solidified.

Air

  • Remove the lid and let the paint dry out in the can
  • Protect from freezing and rain as well as curious children and animals
  • This only works when an inch or less of paint is left in the can and is most effective in the warmer months.

Cat Litter

  • Mix latex paint with an equal amount of clay-based cat litter
  • Stir in completely and let the paint dry. It takes about 10 minutes for the cat litter to harden.
  • Add more cat litter if the paint is soft or runny after 10 minutes. Repeat until the material is very thick.
  • Sawdust, dirt, and shredded paper can be tried as alternatives to cat litter.
  • If there is not enough room in the paint can to stir in enough cat litter to dry it all out, pour off paint into any plastic or cardboard container that is large enough to hold the material, including a yogurt container, plastic tub, shoebox, or other convenient container.

Painter Hardener

  • Mix latex paint or stain with commercial paint hardener according to the directions.
  • At the end of that time, paint will have a tacky, oatmeal-like consistency that will not spill out.

Other Ideas of Using up Latex Paint

  • Use the paint when painting a garage, doghouse or use as a primer coat for another painting project.
  • Donate excess paint to a school, theater group or non-profit agency

Please note: Oil-based paints are a household hazardous waste product and cannot be disposed of like latex paint. Please see our Events Page as to when the next HHW will be.

Motor Oil

Currently, the City of Rock Island and Town of Waterville's Recycling Centers do collect uncontaminated used waste motor oil. They ask their citizens to not contaminate their waste oil with brake fluid, antifreeze, solvents, pesticides or any other non-motor oil product, as the Community Recycling Centers cannot legally burn contaminated waste oil. Up to fifty-five (55) gallons can be collected. Please call and schedule a drop off time.

  • Rock Island City Hall 509-884-1261
  • Waterville Town Hall 509-745-8871

Oil Based Paint

Oil based paint is considered a household hazardous waste and must be disposed of at a Household Hazardous Waste Event. Oil-based paint accounts for approximately 15% of paint sales in the United States. It is preferred by most do-it-yourselfers for exterior paint jobs because of its durability in outdoor conditions. Oil-based paint is more detrimental to our environment than latex paints because it contains hazardous ingredients.

Oil-based paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other flammable or hazardous constituents that can result in environmental problems if poured down the drain, into a storm drain, or if the liquid is disposed of in the regular trash.
How Do I Tell If The Paint is Oil-Based?

  • Read the label: The product is solvent or oil-based if the instructions are to clean with mineral spirits or turpentine. If cleanup instructions say you can clean your brush with soap and water, it is typically latex or water-based paint. If you can't read the label, assume it is oil-based for disposal purposes.
  • Water test: If the paint is water-based, it will dissolve in water easily. Place a small amount of paint in a small clear container with some water. Latex paint will mix with the water while oil-based paint will separate and form layers similar to the layers formed when oil and vinegar are mixed.

Plastics Number 1 and Number 2

  • Recycling Centers
  • Drop-Off Recycling Trailers

Scrap Metal

  • Recycling Centers

Sharps

  • Recycling Centers

Tin

  • Recycling Centers
  • Drop-Off Recycling Trailers

Tires

  • Recycling Centers

There will be a small handling charge for each tire and rim collected at the Community Recycling Centers. Contact your local City or Town Hall for specific information related to charges.

Automotive tires are collected for recycling at the following locations in the Greater East Wenatchee areas.

Discount Tire in Wenatchee 509-665-0759.

Vehicles

Please contact the below businesses for further information on recycling vehicles.

E-Z Auto Wrecking 1855 Rock Island Road 509-884-5000
Wenatchee Valley Salvage and Recycling 295 Urban Industrial Avenue 509-886-7161

Waste Pesticide

For information on how to dispose of your unused pesticides, please contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).