The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program is managed by the Environmental and Recycling Divisions of Public Works and ensures that residential paint, chemicals and other potential harmful products are either recycled or disposed of properly.

In 2010, more than 109,686 pounds of household hazardous waste was collected from 1,436 City of Round Rock citizens during fourteen scheduled events. That is more than 54 tons of material.

Approximately 40 tons of that material was recycled, so 74 percent of what came in was re-used by the community.

Collections are held the first Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. with two Saturday events per year and are staffed with existing staff without the added cost of an onsite Hazardous Waste contractor.

The Deepwood Recycling Center also accepts automotive products on a daily basis. In 2010 more than 17,405 gallons of used motor oil, 495 gallon of antifreeze and 13.8 tons of car batteries were processed. It only takes one gallon of motor oil to pollute a million gallons of drinking water, and making the choice to recycle that oil for free should be an easy one.

These programs give residents and city staff the ability to make the right environmental decision to dispose of their materials safely and properly.