Residents in Wake County who've been facing difficulties in disposing of hazardous household waste might see a silver lining soon. The North Wake Household Hazardous Waste Facility is set to be replaced following it's temporary closure due to a fire earlier this year. In a press release obtained by Wake County News, Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas stated, "We want to continue providing services that allow residents to safely dispose of hazardous materials, and our Solid Waste staff have worked diligently over the last few months to ensure our residents get a new facility as soon as possible and to provide efficient services in the interim."
After the necessary investigations and safety inspections, Wake County has initiated plans for demolition of the existing damaged structure. A request for proposal went out over the summer for this work, and expect to begin demolition activities this month with completion slated by year's end. "The demolition contract is expected to begin this month with the demolition anticipated to take place before the end of this year," according to the same release. In terms of a timeline, Wake County is aiming to open the new facility by later 2026, when it will return to its normal six-day operational week.
Since the fire, residents looking to dispose of hazardous materials have had to rely on a temporary solution. Every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the county has offered collection services at a site adjacent to the damaged facility. Due to regulations, this temporary site cannot store hazardous waste, thus limiting the service to just one day a week. However, the county assures these limited services will continue until a new facility is operational.
For those seeking alternatives, hazardous waste disposal is still possible at the South Wake facility, open Monday–Saturday, and at the East Wake facility, available on weekends. A complete list of acceptable items and limits can be reviewed online prior to visiting. Moreover, residents can seek out other disposal options for select items such as latex paint and batteries. Participating local retailers offer take-back programs complying with laws mandating the return of lead-acid batteries. More information and location specifics can be found at the Wake County News advisory.
