Wallowa County Solid Waste has joined a tri-county effort with Baker Sanitary Service and City Garbage Service in La Grande to offer a new Household Hazardous Waste program free to users.

A new hazardous waste disposal trailer has been installed at the Ant Flat landfill northeast of Enterprise. Residents can now dispose of a long list of hazardous materials including insecticides, herbicides, aerosols, household cleaners, poisons, acids and flammables in liquid or solid form.

The new hazardous disposal trailer will be open from 10 a.m. until noon on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, according to Director of Public Works Russ McMartin and Solid Waste Manager Ed Gomes.

There is no charge for the service, which is paid for through a raise in rates of 50-cents per garbage can, which went into effect more than two years ago. The local garbage rates are still the lowest in the state, McMartin noted.

Those interested in using the new service must first make an appointment by the Wallowa County Public Works Department. After scheduling an appointment, users then drive to the landfill and park next to the hazardous waste disposal trailer. There will be a large plastic tarp to park on to avoid any spillage of toxic chemicals into the soil. Hazardous materials will then be sorted onto tables and packaged into totes or metal drums depending upon the nature of the material being disposed.

When the containers are full, the hazardous materials are then shipped to the La Grande facility, and eventually to Nebraska where it is incinerated.

Those interested in using the new service are advised to schedule an appointment ahead of time by calling the Public Works Office 541-426-3332.