You could get fined in Fort Worth for throwing away these household products
Did you know you aren’t supposed to throw away detergents and cooking oils in your home garbage can?
The City of Fort Worth has garbage guidelines in place to protect our water sources.
“Stormwater runoff enters storm drains during rain and discharges directly into the nearest body of water without any treatment to remove pollutants,” according to the City of Fort Worth website. “This is unlike the sinks and toilets in your home that drain to a water reclamation plant for treatment.”
So what else can’t you throw away in your home garbage bin? And how do you properly dispose of banned materials?
Materials banned from Fort Worth landfills
Hazardous household chemicals and construction debris are mainly what Fort Worth residents cannot throw away in their home trash bins.
Examples of hazardous household chemicals are:
- Chemicals
- Detergents
- Petroleum products
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Fertilizers
Other prohibited waste:
- Tires
- Barrels
- Auto parts
- Liquid waste
- Used oil (this includes cooking oils)
- Oil filters
- Batteries
- Explosives
- Electronics
- Refrigerators
- Air conditioners
- Freezers that contain freon or other coolants
Where do you throw away banned materials?
There are four Fort Worth drop-off stations that accept banned waste:
- Brennan Drop-off Station: 2400 Brennan Ave.
- Southeast Drop-off Station: 5150 Martin Luther King Freeway
- Old Hemphill Road Drop-off Station: 6260 Old Hemphill Road
- Hillshire Drop-off Station (North Service Center): 301 Hillshire Dr.
To see what exactly is accepted and not accepted at these drop off stations, check the City of Fort Worth’s website.
Hazardous waste materials like chemicals and detergents can be thrown away at the local Environmental Collection Center at 6400 Bridge St. Leave materials in their labeled containers. Do not dispense into unlabeled trash bags.
Construction debris like roofing materials should be dropped off at the Southeast Landfill at 6288 Salt Road.
Ammunition or fireworks should be disposed of through your local Fire Department. Email FWFire@fortworthtexas.gov to schedule a drop-off or arrange a pick-up.
What happens if you break the garbage guidelines?
Illegal dumping falls under the Texas Litter Abatement Act.
Penalties include:
- Class C misdemeanor — If the waste weighs five pounds or less or has a volume of five gallons or less. A maximum fine of $500.
- Class B misdemeanor — If the waste weighs five pounds or more, but is less than 500 pounds or has a volume of more than five gallons but less than 100 cubic feet. A maximum fine of $2,000 and or confinement in jail for a maximum of 180 days.
- Class A misdemeanor — If the waste weighs 500 pounds or more but less than 1,000 pounds or has a volume of 100 cubic feet or more but less than 200 cubic feet. A maximum fine of $4,000 and or confinement in jail for a maximum of one year.
This story was inspired by previous reporting from the Star-Telegram’s Ella Gonzales.