Los Alamos County offers hazardous waste drop-off at Eco Transfer Station

A spent smoke detector, a can of aerosol spray or a bottle of old antifreeze all belonged in Los Alamos County’s hazardous waste drop-off program, not in the trash or recycling cart. County officials said improper disposal of motor oil, batteries, paint and chemicals creates serious safety risks for waste management workers and can contaminate recycling loads, sending them to the landfill instead of being processed for reuse.

The next collection at the Eco Station Transfer Station, 3701 E. Jemez Rd., Los Alamos, ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday for county residents who already pay for curbside roll-cart collection services. The county’s 2026 schedule also listed monthly drop-off dates for June 6, July 10, August 7, September 11, October 3 and November 6, giving households a set calendar to clear out garages, sheds and utility rooms before materials pile up.

The list of accepted items showed how wide the program reached into ordinary household clutter. Los Alamos County accepted smoke detectors, lightbulbs, aerosol spray cans, automotive fluids, corrosives, cleaners, photographic flammable solvents, fuels, mercury-containing items, oxidizers, fertilizers, pool chemicals, paints, finishes, stains, pesticides and herbicides. Automotive oil and antifreeze could also be disposed of seven days a week, a useful option for residents who missed the monthly window or did not want to hold onto used fluids until the next event.

County procurement records showed the service has changed shape over time. Around 2010 through 2022, the county said the household hazardous waste program shifted from an annual event to a drop-off operation at the Eco Station, where HHW was accepted on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A 2024 procurement addendum also showed the county was exploring door-to-door HHW collection and disposal for residents in the Los Alamos townsite and White Rock areas.

The 2026 flyer labeled the effort the “4th Annual” Eco Station HHW collection, underscoring how the county has tried to make proper disposal a routine part of household maintenance. Along with the Eco Transfer Station, Environmental Services also maintains the Overlook Convenience Center and two Reuse Centers, all part of the same system aimed at keeping hazardous material out of curbside carts and out of the environment. For questions, the county listed 505-662-8163 and solidwaste@losalamosnm.gov.