All King County and city residents can safely dispose of old car batteries, oil, paint thinner and many other household hazardous items at no cost when the Wastemobile continues its 23rd year of service with a stop in Bothell May 11-13.

The Wastemobile will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Seattle Times building, 19200 120th Ave. N.E.

Residents can drop off household hazardous waste items including pesticides, oil-based paints, automotive products (oil, antifreeze, auto batteries, etc.), fluorescent bulbs/tubes and other items free of charge.

“There is no charge to drop off unwanted household hazardous waste, because the service is paid for through garbage and sewer utility fees,” said Jay Watson, program administrator.

Residents are helping safeguard the environment and public health by properly disposing of hazardous these materials and keeping them out of drains and landfills.

Created in 1989, the Wastemobile was the first program of its kind in the nation. It is operated by King County Solid Waste Division as part of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program, and travels throughout the county from spring through fall.

Since its inception, the Wastemobile has collected more than 15,000 tons of hazardous household waste from 400,000 customers.