SLO County beach town to lose hazardous waste facility. Where to take toxic trash
After 27 years of operation, the Morro Bay Household Hazardous Waste Facility will close by the end of the month.
The current building, located at the former Morro Bay wastewater treatment plant site, is scheduled for demolition — so the facility must close, Integrated Waste Management Authority executive director Coby Skye said.
The city recently relocated the wastewater treatment plant because it was built in a tsunami and flood zone.
Located at 160 Atascadero Road, the Morro Bay Household Hazardous Waste Facility will accept waste from the public through Saturday, July 25, before closing, he said.
When the facility closes, Morro Bay residents can dispose of their household hazardous waste at five other facilities in Templeton, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Nipomo. The closest one to Morro Bay is the Chicago Grade Landfill in Templeton at 2290 Homestead Road.
Retailers also often offer free take back programs for batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, latex paint, prescription medication, needles and mercury-containing thermostats, he said.
Skye also recommended donating unopened or functional electronics.
The Integrated Waste Management Authority is negotiating a lease agreement for a new facility that would serve Morro Bay.
“Although not within the boundaries of the city of Morro Bay, the new site will be nearby and conveniently located to provide easy access for residents of Morro Bay and surrounding communities,” Skye said in an email to The Tribune.
The agency will share more information about the new facility when the agreement is finalized, he said.
