When you first step into the unassuming building on Greeley’s north side that houses the Weld County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program, you might not expect much — but that changes the moment you meet Casey Laudick. As a car pulls up to the loading doors, a bell rings out, just like in old full-service gas stations of yesteryear, and Laudick runs out to greet the visitors with a friendly smile and genuine curiosity that instantly puts them at ease.

Laudick, who works in the facility as an Environmental Health Specialist for the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, grabs a clipboard and takes some information from his customers, documenting the items being dropped off.

“I like helping people out and just letting them know about the program,” he said. “We answer the tough questions: ‘What's the pH of this? Is it flammable?’ It's always interesting. You're always learning something new.”

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Greeley facility, and for all that time, the HHW program has provided a place for residents to dispose of harmful materials many of us have in our garages, basements and sheds. This helps ensure they are kept out of our landfills, water sources, and, ultimately, our communities.

Beyond batteries, spray paint and household chemicals, the Greeley facility sometimes gets more exotic materials that people find in their homes, often locked away for decades.

“We still get DDT, cyanide, elemental mercury, and sometimes even fire grenades,” Laudick explained. “Some people come in with pictures asking if we’ll take certain items, and it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, that's carbon tetrachloride. We'll take that!’”

The program works with multiple vendors to ensure all the materials dropped off are disposed of properly, from recycling where available, to incinerators capable of destroying even the toughest chemicals.

The work at the Greeley facility started out quite modestly.

"The story goes that it was so slow when it first started that they were actually weighing the stuff that came in on a bathroom scale," said HHW Program Manager Dan Parkos, who has been with the county for almost 27 years. "They'd see like one customer a day."

Today, that humble beginning seems almost unimaginable. With an additional facility added in Dacono in 1996, the HHW program has grown substantially, now processing nearly 450,000 pounds of household hazardous waste annually, with around 1,000 residents utilizing the service each month. To date, the program has collected more than 10 million pounds of materials and had more than 137,000 customer visits.

While the facilities have allowed residents a place to safely dispose of household hazardous waste, that’s not their only benefit. As Laudick carefully places dropped-off items in the appropriate bins, he points out the shelves of reusable items that residents can take for free through the Product Reuse program.

"We're probably letting out a couple thousand pounds a month at this facility for reuse. Spray cans, fertilizers and engine oil are some of the most popular items people come in for," Laudick explained, mentioning homeowners, gardeners and even farmers can benefit from the available materials that line the shelves of the Greeley HHW facility, which they can take home for free. "It's worth stopping by to see if we have what you're looking for.”

Despite its longevity and success, one of the program's ongoing challenges is raising awareness, as not everyone in Weld County is familiar with the HHW program.

"I think people are becoming more ecologically conscious, but there's still a lot of work to do. We want to see people more often with less stock," Laudick emphasized. “It’s not just about those big loads, like 200 pounds from one person. We want multiple visits with low poundage. That's what we're working toward.”

He then holds up a very common household item as an example of how small, local efforts can lead to substantial environmental benefits.

“How many times a year do you switch out the batteries in your remote for your TV, sound system, and everything that goes along with it? We take alkaline batteries. There's no reason why I shouldn't see 50% of households once a year, just on alkaline batteries alone.”

As the HHW program looks ahead to the next 30 years, there are exciting possibilities and new challenges on the horizon. Increased use of lithium batteries and increased disposability of electronics are areas that the HHW program is watching closely. Laudick is particularly passionate about efforts to increase awareness and outreach in collaboration with neighboring counties like Larimer and Boulder.

"We're all in this together,” he proclaimed.

As the bell dings again, signaling the arrival of another drop-off customer, Laudick jumps up to meet them, his undiminished enthusiasm a cheerful reminder that every effort, no matter how small, is part of something much bigger. For Laudick, Parkos, and the rest of the team, it’s more than just a drop-off — it’s an opportunity for education and a moment of connection, protecting Weld County’s environment, one interaction at a time.

30th anniversary celebration event

The Greeley HHW facility is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an open house Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1311 North 17th Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature tours, giveaways, refreshments and, of course, an opportunity to meet the passionate and knowledgeable HHW staff! More information will be announced soon on HHWs webpage. 

September is National Preparedness Month and in our next issue of County Roots, we'll highlight some disasters that have impacted residents at different points throughout the county's history. We'll also list a few of the resources the county has to help residents become better prepared before, during and after emergencies.