Lehi residents will get free curbside pickup of paint, batteries, old electronics and other hazardous household waste starting Dec. 1, after the City Council approved a pilot program with Waste Management.
The program, called At Your Door Special Collection, lets garbage-collection subscribers request a kit by phone or email. The kit includes a bag and instructions for setting items out for pickup, as first reported by Lehi Free Press.
The council approved the service on Sept. 22 as part of Resolution 2026-53, which appeared on the consent agenda. The resolution extended the city's agreement with Waste Management to include the new collection program.
Lehi is one of two cities in a statewide pilot. Roy, in Weber County, is the other. Waste Management plans to use data from both cities before expanding the service across Utah.
Blake Leonelli, a Waste Management government affairs representative, told the Lehi Free Press the program addresses a real safety problem. Waste Management has had three truck fires in the past year caused by hazardous items tossed into regular garbage bins.
"One of the fires happened so fast our truck had to stop in a church parking lot and dump their load," Leonelli said.
Old propane containers, consumer electronics and chemicals crushed inside collection trucks are the typical culprits, according to Leonelli.
Accepted items include household chemicals such as ammonia, automotive products like antifreeze and motor oil, vehicle batteries, consumer electronics, paint, garden chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, mercury-containing items such as thermometers, flammable liquids like kerosene and gasoline, medical sharps and pool chemicals.
The program will not accept tires, large appliances, appliances containing Freon, ammunition or explosives.
Lehi's monthly garbage rate is $16.94 for one garbage can and one recycling can, according to the city's garbage and recycling page. Subscribers who pay that fee are eligible for the new hazardous waste service at no extra cost.
The city said residents will receive more information before the Dec. 1 launch. Lehi's garbage and recycling information line is 385-201-1000.
Collection begins Dec. 1.
