Colorado county extends hazardous waste management contract with Clean Harbors

Mesa County, Colorado, has renewed its contract with Norwell, Massachusetts-based Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. for the management of hazardous waste collected from residents and qualifying small businesses.

On Feb. 10, the Mesa County Board of Commissioners approved a third contract amendment and one-year extension with Clean Harbors for hazardous waste disposal services, in an amount not to exceed $120,000. The extension allows the county to continue transporting and disposing of hazardous materials in compliance with state and federal regulations.

The contract supports operations at the county’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, which accepts materials such as paint, batteries, pesticides, mercury and other hazardous substances. The service is free for Mesa County residents and available to qualifying small businesses for a fee to help cover disposal costs.

RELATED: Clean Harbors demonstrates successful destruction of PFAS surpassing EPA standards

Mesa County says it opened one of Colorado’s first hazardous waste collection facilities more than two decades ago to address a growing need for safe disposal options. Today, the facility receives more than 280,000 pounds of hazardous waste annually, which requires specialized handling and off-site disposal.

Because different types of hazardous waste must be treated in different ways, materials may be sent to permitted incineration facilities, Subtitle C disposal facilities or approved recycling operations, depending on the waste stream, Mesa County officials say. Regulations require complete lifecycle tracking.

Clean Harbors provides comprehensive tracking and reporting, enabling Mesa County to verify that hazardous materials are transported and disposed of properly and on required timelines, the county says. The company was originally selected through a request for proposals in 2022.

The contract amendment represents the third of up to four allowable one-year renewals under the original agreement.