The news: That half-empty can of paint in your garage has a free place to go, and Arlington is helping pay for it. The Shelby County Commission’s Oct. 26 agenda included the second reading of an ordinance approving agreements between the county and the Town of Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis and Millington. The deals cover annual funding for a permanent household hazardous waste facility in Shelby County.

Wait, what facility? The county’s drop-off site is at Shelby Farms. County Engineer Darren Sanders told commissioners at an Aug. 5 committee meeting that it opened in 2007. It’s open three days a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

What can I bring? Sanders said the facility takes motor fluids like oil and antifreeze, plus household products like cooking oil, propane tanks and herbicides.

Who pays? Here’s how Sanders described the deal:

  • Suburban towns, Arlington included, pay 25 cents per resident each year.
  • Shelby County and Memphis each pay a flat $50,000.
  • Residents pay nothing to drop off. “That’s why we have this funding agreement,” Sanders said.

Where it stands: Commissioners on the public works committee voted to send the first reading to the full commission with a favorable recommendation on Aug. 5. The ordinance came back for second reading on Oct. 26. County ordinances need three readings, so there’s one more vote to go before this is final. We haven’t confirmed the Oct. 26 vote yet, since the official results weren’t posted when we checked.

Also on the list: At the same Aug. 5 committee, the county moved forward a contract with Clean Harbors Environmental Services to haul away and dispose of what people drop off. It’s capped at $175,000 a year and runs through Nov. 17, 2030.

Why it matters: Pouring old chemicals down the drain or tossing them in the trash isn’t safe. A free drop-off spot keeps that stuff out of your trash can and out of the ground.

Sources: Shelby County Commission agenda, Oct. 26, 2026 (item 26), Oct. 26 meeting video and item list, Aug. 5, 2026 committee meeting video, Shelby County 2026 household hazardous waste brochure.

Photo: U.S. EPA (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons