Frequently Asked Questions
My garbage and/or recycling have not been picked up from my house. Will HWMA pick up and dispose of my garbage/recycling for me?
No. Humboldt Waste Management Authority manages the Eureka Transfer Station and Recycling Center, both of which are self-haul only. Throughout Humboldt County, private haulers are contracted to provide your community with curbside garbage and/or recycling service (in more remote areas of the County, a self-haul option, rather than curbside pickup, may be what is available). These private haulers can be contacted directly if you have questions about service, billing and others. Your garbage bill should have contact information for your hauler on it; however, the guide below will most likely provide you with the contact information for the hauler in your area.
Recology (formerly City Garbage), (707) 442-5711. City of Eureka, and the surrounding area of Cutten/Myrtle Town, County area surrounding Blue Lake, Garberville, Redway, and Fieldbrook.
Commercial cardboard pickup: In City of Eureka - Eel River Disposal, (707) 725-5156 and Humboldt Sanitation, (707) 839-3285. Arcata and the surrounding area: Arcata Garbage Company, (707) 822-0304.
Blue Lake Garbage, (707) 444-2903 - City of Blue Lake.
Humboldt Sanitation, (707) 839-3285 - McKinleyville, Trinidad, and surrounding Northern County. Orleans, surrounding Eastern County.
Eel River Disposal, (707) 725-5156 - Willow Creek
Eel River Disposal, (707) 725-5156 - Ferndale, Rio Dell, surrounding Eel River Valley.
Humboldt Waste Management Authority provides a variety of services in waste management and recycling. Who do I contact for specific information about one of your services?
The HWMA Main Office can answer a variety of general information questions, and can route you as necessary in the event they cannot adequately answer your inquiry. Office staff is on hand five days a week, M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The HWMA Main Office can be reached at (707) 268-8680. The Waste Reduction and Recycling Hotline provides information on HWMA’s recycling programs and alternative disposal methods for most household waste. In addition, an analyst is available most days during regular business hours to directly answer any questions you may have. The Hotline can be reached at (707) 268-8030. The Hazardous Waste Hotline will guide you through the disposal requirements for both household and commercial hazardous waste, as well as proper tire and electronic waste disposal. The Hotline can be reached at (707) 441-2005.
Where is HWMA’s Solid Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Center? What are its days and hours of operation?
HWMA’s Transfer Station and Recycling Center is located at 1059 W. Hawthorne Street in Eureka. We are directly behind Harbor Lanes bowling alley off of Broadway. We are open seven days a week, and are fully closed for only seven days of the year on major holidays (Easter, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day).
The Transfer Station operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Recycling Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The HWMA Main Office, located at the Transfer Station, is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
What are the disposal fees at the Eureka Transfer Station and Recycling Center?
Most fees at the Eureka Transfer Station and Recycling Center are based on weight. Solid Waste and Greenwaste are charged by the ton, while Electronic Waste is charged a flat rate for monitors and by the pound for other types of electronic waste. Many large ticket items, such as appliances and mattresses, incur extra charges when disposed. For some items, fees apply after a maximum limit for free drop off has been reached. For a more in-depth look at the rates charged by the HWMA, please refer to our Transfer Station Rates Page and to our Recycling Center Rates Page.
What forms of payment do you accept?
The Transfer Station accepts check, cash, VISA and Mastercard (debit cards with a VISA or Mastercard logo are OK). At present time, the Recycling Center cannot accept debit and credit cards, but will gladly accept cash and check.
What is the disposal protocol for Greenwaste? And, what types of waste constitute Greenwaste?
Although there is a fee for Greenwaste disposal, it is less than the disposal rate for Solid Waste. Greenwaste is currently $90/ton. Proper disposal protocol saves you money on your current trip.
At the Hawthorne Street transfer station in Eureka, Greenwaste should be disposed of in a specific area. Once crossing the scales of the transfer station, the Greenwaste pile is located to the left of the tip floor where solid waste is disposed. Once you have finished disposing of your Greenwaste and are ready to pay, inform the Scalehouse attendant at the window that you had Greenwaste.
Greenwaste is any type of brush or grass, from any type of plant. In addition, most pallets are accepted in the greenwaste pile, as well as unpainted and untreated wood. Dirt, sod, painted and treated woods, particle board and plywood are considered Solid Waste and should be disposed on the tip floor as garbage.
Greenwaste transported to the Transfer Station in plastic bags must be emptied before being disposed, and the bags disposed of as trash. Trash and dirt mixed with greenwaste loads must also be disposed as trash. These items, when disposed of in the Greenwaste Pile, increase the cost of properly disposing of the load; expenses that, if incurred regularly, will increase the cost to rate payers for the disposal of Greenwaste in the future.
So please, make sure to dispose of only grass, brush and untreated, unpainted wood in our Greenwaste pile.
How do I apply for a job with Humboldt Waste Management Authority?
HWMA only accepts applications when we are seeking to fill open positions. Due to the nature of our recordkeeping requirements, we will turn away applications submitted at any other time. Any employment openings will be advertised in the Times Standard as well as on our website in the Employment section. During an open application period, the Authority welcomes and encourages all qualified individuals who wish to apply.
I am a business interested in opening an account with HWMA. How do I go about doing so?
HWMA’s requires that you fill out a simple, one-page application; in addition, we ask that you read over and sign our credit policy, which details the methods by which we govern your account and the extra fees that may become attached to it, as necessary.
As a part of your application process, you will be asked to supply three credit references. It is important that you pick strong references, as these can help establish a good early relationship with our finance office. You will also want to choose references who respond quickly to requests for credit information. An account can be created and activated in as little as one business day, however most applications get held up in the reference check process due to slow or unresponsive references. Please make sure to notify those business partners you have chosen as your credit references that our staff will be contacting them, and to respond swiftly so that we may open your account with little wait.
What do I do with Medical Sharps?
See the HHW Section/Sharps Section.
What do I do with Expired Medication?
See the HHW Section/Pharmaceuticals Section.
HWMA accepts asbestos that is non-friable only at our Hawthorne Street Transfer Station. For material examples which typically contain non-friable asbestos, see Friable vs. Non-friable Asbestos. Up to 5 50-lb bags (250 lbs total) of non-friable asbestos can be accepted at one time. Specific packaging requirements apply in order for HWMA to accept the asbestos. The asbestos must be first damped with water, then wrapped in no thinner than a 6 mil plastic bag (such as a contractor bag) and duct taped. Then that material must be put in a bag specifically designed to carry asbestos. Bags are available for sale at HWMA’s scale house for $2.00/ea. HWMA is no longer accepting asbestos in cardboard boxes, only in asbestos bags. When you arrive at the transfer station to drop off the packaged asbestos, give it directly to one of the attendants on the tip floor. A $50 handling charge applies, in addition to the weight of the material. Due to the strict disposal requirements for asbestos, either for commercial or private use, you are best served by carefully reading the instructions found on the following document: Friable vs Non-Friable Asbestos.
Solid Waste of Willits’ transfer station accepts quantities of non-friable asbestos greater than 250 lbs. The transfer station requires the non-friable asbestos to be packaged in two contractor plastic bags, available for purchase at many hardware stores. If you are planning on transporting non-friable asbestos to Willits, call the transfer station at (707) 459-4778 the day before your drop off and let staff know the quantity of the load.