Last Updated on January 30, 2024
Are old medicine bottles, paint cans, and cleaning products taking up space in your cabinets?
We’ve got the solution! The San Antonio River Authority (River Authority), in collaboration with local partners, holds six Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events each year downstream in Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality defines household hazardous waste as products containing chemicals that present safety concerns if not properly managed. The River Authority encourages county residents to stop by to drop off unwanted household hazardous waste, electronics, tires, and unused pharmaceuticals. These collection events are essential to the community because they 1) offer residents a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused HHW and 2) help protect local creeks and the San Antonio River from harmful pollutants.
In 2022, we counted a total of 1,298 cars that stopped by the six events across the watershed. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported our creeks and rivers by properly disposing of their waste. With your help, the River Authority and our partners collected over 85,000 pounds of unwanted household materials! This means 85,000 fewer pounds of tires in the river, pharmaceuticals flushed into the water supply, and batteries leaching into the soil and water tables.
These events are essential to protecting property, community members, and our precious natural resources. Central to the River Authority’s mission is keeping our local creeks and the San Antonio River clean, which is why we promote the proper disposal of waste. The River Authority hopes these regularly scheduled collections will raise awareness of the negative impact of illegal dumping and improperly disposing of waste and reduce waste runoff entering the San Antonio River Watershed.
Planning to attend one of our Spring 2023 HHW events? Here is what you need to know:
- Acceptable materials include HHW, such as paint, pesticide, fertilizer, pool cleaning chemicals, used motor oil and filters, paint thinner, and general household cleaners. Also accepted are tires without rims, computers, small electronics, and pharmaceuticals. A complete list of acceptable items is available here.
- These events are FREE, and residents are assisted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Spring 2023 HHW Collection Schedule
Saturday, April 1, 2023, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM @ Wilson County Expo Center, 435 TX-97 E, Floresville, TX 78114
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM @ Goliad County Fairgrounds/Auditorium Parking Lots, 925 US-183 Hwy, Goliad, TX 77963
Saturday, May 13, 2023, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM @ Karnes County Youth Show Barn, 1480 CR 345, Kenedy, TX 78119
We are looking forward to this spring’s events downstream! Visit the HHW Collection Service for more information and a list of acceptable items.
Should you have any questions about our upcoming HHW collections, please contact us for more information.
