Tri-Cities has new option for hazardous waste disposal. What can you throw out?

Benton County residents have a new option when it comes to disposing household hazardous waste.

The Moderate Risk Waste Facility in Kennewick opened to the public on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Although the new facility accepts many common kinds of hazardous household trash, including paint, pesticides and cleaners, there are limits on what you can throw away.

Here’s what you need to know before you go:

Where is new Benton County waste facility? When is it open?

The Moderate Risk Waste Facility is at 1709 South Ely Street in Kennewick.

It’s open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

According to Benton County, drop-off may be suspended during normal business hours as waste is prepared for transportation.

The facility had a soft opening earlier in August with limited drop-off appointments available. As of Wednesday, it was open at full capacity.

Follow these directions for Kennewick disposal site

Once you arrive at the location on Ely Street, follow the arrows on the pavement. Stop signs will mark drop-off lanes at the facility, as well as the site’s exit.

Unloading areas will also have signs confirming what materials are accepted.

Customers should be sure to follow the arrows and signs to maintain proper traffic flow.

What is considered moderate risk waste?

Moderate risk waste includes household hazardous waste — leftover household products with dangerous chemical properties.

When improperly disposed of, such materials pose risks to the environment and human health, according to Benton County.

For example, pouring leftover corrosive materials down the drain can contaminate groundwater, pollute waterways and create risk for the general public, the county said.

According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, the term “moderate” does not refer to the product’s danger levels, but rather the small volume of waste materials generated in a household.

“These small volumes pose a lower individual threat to human health and the environment,” the agency said on its website. “However, moderate risk waste is still harmful.”

Which kinds of hazardous household waste are accepted at new facility?

According to Benton County, kinds of household hazardous waste accepted at the Moderate Risk Waste Facility in Kennewick include:

• Paints, stains, varnishes
• Pesticides, herbicides
• Cleaners, solvents
• Mercury
• Oxidizers
• Acids
• Automotive products including used oil, brake fluid and antifreeze

Can I drop off appliances? Old medicine?

Benton County said the following household hazardous waste materials are not accepted at the Moderate Risk Waste Facility in Kennewick:

• Appliances
• Ammunition, fireworks, explosive devices
• Alkaline, lithium ion or lithium metal batteries (including vape pens)
• Asbestos
• Agricultural- and commercial-grade chemicals
• Needles, syringes
• Radioactive materials
• Medicine
• Compressed cylinders

If you’re not sure where to safely dispose of your waste, check out this Benton County breakdown of materials or this Washington Recycles interactive map.