Residents in Johnson County, and within the city limits of both Kalona and Riverside can bring hazardous material to the Hazardous Material Collection Facility at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Ave. SW, Iowa City) at no cost.

The facility is open Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon, no appointment needed.

Instructions for using the facility:

1. Inventory items, and keep items in original, sealed, upright containers. Label any unmarked containers. Never mix chemicals.
2. Visit the facility during open hours only.
3. When you arrive, pull through Lane 1, and park under the overhang on the building. Landfill staff will be ready to serve you.
4. Customers must bring items in containers with secure lids to be left at the facility. Empty containers cannot be returned to customers. 

Tips to avoid problems with hazardous material:

• Look for safer, non-toxic alternatives. Reduce your use of hazardous material in your home: 
  • Green cleaning recipes from University of Arkansas
  • List of cleaning products that meet the Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice Standard
• Buy only the amount you need. Give unused items to someone who can use it.
• Keep in the original, labeled containers and store upright away from children and pets.

What hazardous materials can you bring to the facility? 

Bring these items:

• Cleaning products
  • Examples: abrasive cleaner, aerosols, carpet cleaner, disinfectant, drain cleaner, dry cleaning solution, fabric softener, floor care product, furniture polish, glass cleaner, grout or tile cleaner, metal polish, mildew remover, oven cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, soap scum remover, stain remover, toilet bowl cleaner
• Garage and workshop products
  • Examples: adhesive, glue, antifreeze, battery acid, brake fluid, engine degreaser, gasoline/oil, kerosene, lighter fluid, oil-based paint (limit of 20 gallons per visit), paint thinner, resin, solvent, stain, stripper, transmission fluid, varnish
• Lawn and outdoor products
  • Examples: bug spray, fertilizer, fogger, fungicide, insecticide, insect repellent, pesticides, pool chemicals, rodent killer, weed killer
• Batteries 
  • Examples: alkaline, cell phone, computer, hearing aid, lithium, lithium-ion, nickel cadmium, rechargeable, sealed lead-acid, auto or boat
• Sharps and syringes
  • Examples: lancet needles, microneedle patches, autoinjectors, and similar sharps
  • Staff will only accept sharps and syringes that are properly contained with a secure lid in a medical sharps container or a rigid plastic container such as a laundry detergent bottle. 
• Oil
  • Bring motor oil in sealed, labeled plastic bottles (must be less than 5-gallon size) with secure lids, and leave on the shelf in the Oil Recycling Shed. Customers are not permitted to pour oil. Oil must be left in a container with a secure lid.
• Other
  • Examples: hair remover, medications (non-controlled substances only), mercury thermostat, moth balls, nail polish or remover, photo chemicals, shoe polish, thermometer, fire extinguishers 
    

Do not bring these items: 

• Electric vehicle or electric bike batteries
  • For more information on safe disposal options, visit the Batteries web page. 
• Smoke detectors
  • Remove batteries and place smoke detectors in regular garbage. 
  • Batteries can be safely recycled at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility.
• Electronic thermostats
  • Recycle electronic thermostats via electronics recycling at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center or via ReStore Donations at the East Side Recycling Center. 
• Propane
  • Recycle propane cylinders with Ferrel Gas or A-1 Propane.
  • Recycle residential-sized propane tanks for $1 per tank via appliance recycling at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.
• Helium tanks
  • Recycle helium tanks for $1 per tank (residential-sized tanks only) via appliance recycling at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.
• Controlled substance medications
  • Several drop-off locations are available in Johnson County to properly dispose of controlled substances and other types of medication. For an updated list of locations, use the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) search tool.
• Ammunition and explosives
• Radioactive materials
• Infectious medical waste

Businesses in Johnson County, and within the city limits of both Kalona and Riverside, that generate hazardous material may be eligible for the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program.

The program allows businesses that generate less than 220 pounds of hazardous material per month, and store less than 1,000 pounds, to safely dispose of hazardous material.

To participate, businesses must:

1. Email jeckrich@iowa-city.org to receive the VSQG Business Packet.
2. Schedule an appointment to bring a load. Contact Resource Management at 319-887-6112 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about our hazardous material disposal services.
3. Customers must bring items in containers with secure lids to be left at the facility. Empty containers cannot be returned to customers. 

Sharps and syringes are not accepted from businesses at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility.  Please contact GRP or Stericycle directly for disposal services, or call 319-887-6112 for more information.

Visit the new Batteries web page.

Batteries should not be placed in the regular garbage or recycling. 

Improper disposal of batteries in the regular garbage or recycling is a leading cause of landfill and recycling facility fires. Prevent fires and the release of hazardous chemicals in the local environment by properly recycling batteries at local drop-off locations listed on the Batteries web page. 

Sharps and Syringes

Sharps and syringes (including lancet needles, microneedle patches, autoinjectors, and similar sharps) are biohazardous waste and must not be placed in the trash, recycling, or composting. Safe containment and disposal are required.  

Residents can safely dispose of properly contained sharps and syringes at no cost at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility during facility open hours on Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. 

Staff will only accept sharps and syringes that are properly contained with a secure lid in a medical sharps container or a rigid plastic container such as a laundry detergent bottle. 

Loose sharps and syringes or those improperly packaged in unsafe containers such as plastic bags, cardboard boxes, or thin plastic containers, such as milk jugs, will not be accepted. Customers will be asked to take the sharps and syringes back with them to properly contain them before staff can accept them.

Sharps and syringes are not accepted from businesses at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility.  Please contact GRP or Stericycle directly for disposal services, or call 319-887-6112 for more information.

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Medication

Several drop-off locations are available in Johnson County to properly dispose of controlled substances and other types of medication. For an updated list of locations, use the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) search tool.

The Hazardous Material Collection Facility accepts only non-controlled substances, such as Tylenol and antibiotics.

Are you a business? Call 319-887-6112 to discuss other options.

Community Collection Events

Johnson County residents can safely dispose of properly contained sharps and unused or expired medication at collection events held every April and October, in partnership with the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day program. 

Medications should be in the original containers with names blacked out or in plastic baggies with no personal patient information.

How to safely transport sharps and syringes

Sharps and syringes should be contained in sealed, rigid plastic containers with firmly attached lids, such as medical sharps containers or laundry detergent bottles. Plastic containers made of thinner plastic, such as milk jugs, should not be used. Loose sharps or sharps that come in unsafe containers, such as cardboard boxes, milk jugs, or plastic bags, will not be accepted. Sharps can only be accepted from individual community members. Businesses and non-profit organizations should call 319-887-6112 for disposal options.

Waste reduction is the first priority before disposal

Consider these tips to reduce paint waste:

• Buy only the amount of paint that you need. To assist with this, use a paint calculator, such as Lowe’s Paint Calculator, to measure exactly how much paint you will need to complete a job.
• Mix together unused light colors to use as primer.
• Give extra paint to someone that could use it.

Latex Paint (Not Hazardous)

• How to identify latex paint: 
  • On the paint container's product label, look for words such as latex or acrylic latex, water-based, or soap and water cleanup.
• How to dispose of latex paint: 
  • Because latex paint is not hazardous, it does not need to be disposed of at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility. Save the trip to the landfill and dispose of latex paint at home instead in the regular trash once dried out or thickened to a cottage cheese consistency. Thicken latex paint by mixing in one of the following thickening agents: shredded paper, kitty litter, wood chips, or paint hardener (available at local hardware stores). 

Oil-based Paint (Hazardous)

• How to identify oil-based paint: 
  • On the container's product label, look for words such as oil-based, oil-based enamel, petroleum, combustible liquid or vapor, flammable, paint thinner or mineral spirits cleanup.
• How to dispose of oil-based paint:
  • Oil-based paints and products are hazardous. Johnson County residents can dispose of oil-based items at no cost at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility located at the Iowa City Landfill during facility open hours on Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.

Light bulb recycling is available to residents and businesses in Johnson County, and within the city limits of Kalona and Riverside.  

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs can be thrown away in the regular garbage.

Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) and LED Bulbs

Residents:

Properly dispose of CFL and LED bulbs at the following locations. 

Locations accept bulbs at no cost. Tube recycling is not available at all locations, or there may be a charge. Contact partner locations for more information on items accepted and open hours.

• Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Ave. SW, Iowa City)      
  • No cost CFL and LED tube and bulb recycling are available during regular business hours, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. 
  • Light fixtures without PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are $3 each to recycle.
  • Light fixtures with PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are $12.50 each to recycle.
• ReStore Donations (2401 Scott Blvd. SE, Iowa City)
• Ace Hardware (1558 Mall Dr., Iowa City)
• Ace Hardware (600 North Dodge St., Iowa City)
• Tiffin City Hall (300 Railroad St.)
• Riverside City Hall (61 Greene St.)
• Lone Tree City Hall (123 Devoe St.)
• North Liberty City Hall (360 N Main St.)
• Lowe's Home Improvement (2701 2nd St., Coralville)
  • Call 319-545-8300 for more information, as this program is not managed by the City of Iowa City.

Businesses:  

Businesses can properly dispose of CFLs and LEDs for a fee at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.

Commercial light bulb recycling fees:

• CFL or LED bulbs: 54 cents each
• Tubes 4-foot and under: 54 cents each
• Tubes 4-foot and over: 72 cents each
• Light fixtures without PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are $3 each to recycle.
• Light fixtures with PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are $12.50 each to recycle.

CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and LEDs contain a small amount of lead. Special handling is required to safely remove the mercury and lead.

• How to Clean Up a Broken CFL Bulb

Fire Extinguishers 

Expired or used fire extinguishers are accepted at the Hazardous Material Collection Facility, or at these locations: 

• Hawkeye Fire and Safety 
  • Address: 4185 Alyssa Ct. SW, #7, Iowa City, IA 52240
  • Phone: 319-338-3096
• Iowa Fire Equipment Company 
  • Address: 327 First Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
  • Phone: 319-337-4434
• Petersen Iron and Metal (Note: extinguishers must be emptied first in order for Petersen to accept them.)
  • Address: 420 1st St., Coralville, IA 52241  
  • Phone: 319-351-1331

Propane or Helium Tanks

Recycle residential-sized propane or helium tanks via appliance recycling at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center for $1 per tank. 

Propane cylinders can be recycled via Ferrel Gas (319-354-4220) or A-1 Propane (319-337-2034).

Bring motor or vegetable oil in sealed, labeled plastic bottles (must be less than 5-gallon size) with secure lids, and leave on the shelf in the Oil Recycling Sheds at either location. Customers are not permitted to pour oil. Oil must be left in a container with a secure lid.

• East Side Recycling Center (2401 Scott Blvd. SE, Iowa City), available 24/7
• Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center (3900 Hebl Avenue SW, Iowa City), available during open hours only from Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon

Motor oil filters can also be recycled at both locations. This service is available at no cost to residents in Johnson County, and within the city limits of Kalona and Riverside. Materials from outside of this service area are not accepted. 

The Swap Shop is open on Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.

The Swap Shop hosts items that are gently-used, in good condition, and free for the taking. Customers have brought them to the Hazardous Material Collection Facility, and are most often paints, automobile fluids, and cleaners.

The entrance door to the Swap Shop is to the left of the main landfill office door. The landfill office is closed to the public.