Automotive and Tire Waste
Antifreeze
This dangerous chemical is poisonous to humans, pets, and wildlife. Take precautions when changing or adding antifreeze to your vehicles. Antifreeze can be used up to two years. Simply strain after the first year and reuse. Never pour antifreeze on the ground or in the street. Bring it to the District for disposal.
Automotive Batteries
A typical automotive battery holds one gallon of extremely corrosive sulfuric acid and 19 pounds of lead. Only 80% of automotive batteries are recycled (16 million toxic cubes are not recycled each year).
When choosing a battery, look for one with a long warranty (72 to 75 months) that has been manufactured in the last six months. Standard life batteries are not recommended because they use large amounts of resources and have a shorter usable life. Spent batteries can be returned to an automotive store for the core charge or sold to a local scrap yard. The District will take them but does not pay money for them.
Automotive Oil
Changing your vehicle’s oil is healthy for the vehicle but not the environment. Conserve your automotive oil use whenever possible. Buy only what you need and use all of the product. Give your drained oil and oil waste to those who can use it to heat their homes or businesses, or bring it to the District for disposal.
Tires
The Howard County Highway Department picks up over 1,000 tires per year that have been illegally dumped along county roads. Scrap tires create serious health hazards, such as fires and mosquito infestations. Keep the life of your tires longer by balancing your tires, rotating your vehicle’s tires every 4,000 miles, inflating tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended air pressure, and checking your tire pressure.
Local tire stores will usually take used tires for a fee. The District can take them from Howard County residents only for a fee. Call the office for current prices. No tires can be accepted from businesses.
THE DISTRICT CAN NOT ACCEPT TIRES FROM ANY BUSINESSES OR LANDLORDS.
DUE TO LIMITED STORAGE SPACE, RESIDENTS WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF TIRES WILL BE REFERRED TO OUR CONTRACTOR OR A LOCAL TIRE COMPANY.