Twice per year, the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission organizes and subsidizes drop-off events for household hazardous waste disposal and electronics recycling. The Fall Drop-off Event is hosted at a City of Cedar Falls site. The Spring Drop-off Event is hosted at a City of Waterloo site.  The event is only possible through volunteer support.

The events are open to ALL Black Hawk County residents by appointment only.  These events allow residents to get rid of approved items from their homes and garages. The proper disposal of household toxins and the recycling of all electric/electronic items collected during these events are paid for by the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission, although some fees may apply for certain electronic items. Business hazardous waste and electronics from businesses are not accepted.

Click here to register for the September 7th, 2024 Event

2024 Household Hazardous and Electronics Waste Collection Event

When: Saturday, September 7th from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
(Event entrance gate will close promptly at 12:30 PM. Please plan to arrive accordingly to you appointment window to ensure your items will be accepted.)

Where: The Cedar Falls Public Works Complex
(Located at 2200 Technology Parkway in Cedar Falls)
Follow the event signs from the corner of Hudson Road and Viking Road on the day of the event.

* For safety reasons, you must stay in your vehicle. Event volunteers will unload your items for you.

NOTICE:  All loads must be covered or otherwise secured… so that the material does not fall off or blow out of the vehicle from the load’s point of origin.

Add this event to your Facebook calendar!

Click here to register

Volunteer at the Fall Drop-off Event

The Waste Trac Education Team is looking for approximately 35 volunteers to assist residents at this drop-off event. From directing traffic and surveying participants to unloading chemicals and electronic items from participants’ vehicles, volunteers make this event possible! Learn more about volunteering for this event.

*During a similar event in Waterloo in Spring of 2024, 30 volunteers unloaded over 40,000 pounds of waste from over 500 vehicles during the 4.5 hour event!

Electronic Drop-off Details:

• Black Hawk County Residents are invited to bring old electric or electronic items from their homes.
• 2 Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) are accepted free of charge per household/vehicle. Each additional CRT is $5. Exact CASH only. Bills larger than $20 will NOT be accepted.
• CRTs can be found in old NON-flat screen TV sets (including console TVs) and older NON-flat screen styles of bulky desktop computer monitors.
• All other electric and electronic devices (including flat screen TVs/computers) are accepted free of charge.
• All computer hard drives will be shredded and all devices will be safely recycled through Midwest Electronic Recovery in Walford, Iowa.
• No appliances (air conditioners, microwaves, dehumidifiers, washers, dryers, water softeners, refrigerators,  etc.) or light ballasts.
• No e-waste from businesses, churches, schools, farms, non-profits, or governmental entities.
• Can’t make it to this event or don’t want to wait in line? Electronics can also be recycled at other locations in the Cedar Valley on a day-to-day basis.

Examples of electric/electronic devices that residents CAN bring to the Fall Drop-off:

• 2 CRTs per household/vehicle at no charge ($5 each for each additional CRT) including: NON-flat screen computer monitors and NON-flat screen television sets (including console TVs)
• Unlimited quantities at no charge: flat screen computer monitors, flat screen televisions, computer towers, hard drives (will be shredded), laptops, keyboards, mice, routers, desktop copiers, printers, fax machines, cables, ink cartridges, cell phones, home phones, video game systems, DVD/VCR players, handheld electronics, radios, stereos, cassette players, record players, curling irons, hair dryers, countertop kitchen appliances (toasters, mixers, blenders, can openers, toaster ovens, etc.), and other non-appliance home items: vacuums, fans (all styles), tabletop/floor lamps, treadmills, humidifiers, electric space heaters, holiday lights, electric keyboards, cable/satellite equipment, garage door openers (opener only – remove from metal track), etc.)
• The event flier (at the bottom of this page) lists a wide variety of devices that will/will not be accepted.
• If you have an item that you are unsure about, please contact the Waste Trac Education Team.

Household Hazardous Materials Drop-off Details:

• Schedule an appointment to bring household toxic materials for free and safe disposal
• The drop-off is open to all Black Hawk County Residents (for residential hazardous waste only)
• All materials will be safely disposed or recycled through Clean Harbors.
• No paint, used oil, antifreeze, appliances, or tires.
• No hazardous waste from businesses, churches, schools, or non-profits. Many vendors have routes locally.

Examples of toxic materials that residents CAN bring to the Fall Drop-off:

• Home items such as: clogged aerosol cans (including aerosol spray paint), **batteries (all varieties – except alkaline), fluorescent light bulbs (compact and tube), mercury (including switches and thermometers), moth balls, furniture/metal polish, wallpaper remover, floor care products, and various types of toxic cleaners.
• Lawn and Garden products such as: brush killer, weed and feed fertilizers, insect spray, rat/mouse/gopher poison, and fungicides. (fertilizers without a herbicide can be placed in the garbage).
• Garage and Workshop items such as: pool chemicals, lead acid batteries (car, truck, mower, motorcycle, etc.), concrete cleaner, acids and bases, auto cleaners, varnish, shellac, stain, car wax, brake fluid, driveway sealer, adhesives, epoxy, glues, flammables (gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid), roofing tar, and propane tanks.
• The event flier (at the bottom of this page) lists a wide variety of devices that will/will not be accepted.
• These are some examples of accepted materials. If you have an item that you are unsure about, please contact the Waste Trac Education Team.

What residents CAN NOT bring to the Drop-off Event:

• Appliances ; including light ballasts and microwaves
• Paint
• Alkaline batteries (Single use AAA, AA, 9-volt, etc.)
• Motor oil, filters, or antifreeze
• Health and beauty or personal care products (such as cosmetics, lotion, sunscreen, soap, laundry detergent, and more). Visit our FAQ page for disposal details.
• Medication or medical sharps
• Any container larger than 5 gallons (no drums) – Contact a hazardous waste hauling company directly for options.
• Ammunition – Contact the Black Hawk County Sherriff’s Office or your local police department.
• Fire extinguishers – Contact the Waterloo Hazmat Center or a local scrap metal company. Call ahead for instructions.
• Smoke alarms, smoke detectors, or other devices containing radioactive materials – Per Iowa DNR Instructions:  Identify which brand of smoke detector that you have and contact the manufacturer for mail back instructions.
• Asbestos
• Tires
• Lawn mowers, weed eaters, snow blowers, or grills – Contact a local scrap metal company for instructions.
• Non-hazardous waste (couches, mattresses, carpet, etc.) – Check with your city or take those items directly to the Cedar Falls Transfer Station or the Black Hawk County Sanitary Landfill.
• Business, church, farm, non-profit, or school waste (of any type). For a fee, many e-waste recyclers and hazardous waste hauling companies have routes locally. Have a list of items and quantities handy when calling for quotes.

Click here to register

For details about disposing 100+ other types of items, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page!