Health

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Additional Resources

For additional information about solid and hazardous waste in Larimer County visit Larimer County Landfill Household Hazardous Waste

 

LCDHE Solid Waste

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment conducts solid waste investigations including garbage, rubbish, refuse, ashes, construction and demolition waste, dead animals including offal, discarded home and industrial appliances, and wood products / byproducts and other materials.

When the LCDHE receives a complaint regarding solid waste or hazardous materials, we either investigate based on the information provided, or refer the complaint to the appropriate code compliance or municipal entity.

Services provided:

  • Perform routine inspections of licensed landfills and transfer stations
  • Investigate allegations of illegal dumping activities
  • Assist property owners and businesses in properly remediating contaminated sites
  • Educate the general public on the proper handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of solid or hazardous waste according to applicable rules and regulations
  • Provide consultation at hazardous and non-hazardous material spills that may pose a threat to health or the environment
  • Provide information on potential environmental impacts of hazardous material spills including underground tank failures and accidental releases from vehicles
Solid Waste

Methamphetamine

LCDHE is not a responding agency for potential clandestine drug labs. All methamphetamine-related complaints or concerns should be first addressed with local law enforcement.

LCDHE assists local and state law enforcement in addressing methamphetamine contaminated properties and the remediation required for occupancy.

If your residential property tested positive for methamphetamine in Larimer County, please follow the steps below: 

  1. Get a copy of the preliminary assessment stating that a methamphetamine contaminated property/illegal drug lab has been identified and decommissioned
  2. Submit the report here
    1. When you log in for the first time, you will be asked to create an account. Once an account is created, select "Methamphetamine Reports" from the menu. 
  3. Search the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) webpage for meth lab training and certification lists to find a certified firm or individual to clean up the property. In the meantime, a Dangerous Building notice will be placed on the house. 
  4. Once the cleanup is done, submit a Post Decontamination/Clearance Report here.
  5. Once we at LCDHE receive the report, we will contact you with next steps.  

We also help property owners, real estate agents, other agencies, and the public understand the rules for properties affected by meth. We search environmental records, help coordinate services and information sharing between agencies, including building code compliance and law enforcement agencies, and will consult with CDPHE as needed. 

Methamphetamine contamination can occur anywhere someone uses meth. This can include public places. Meth contamination can be spread by touching or interacting with contaminated surfaces. The residue is very sticky and is usually difficult to clean. 

According to Colorado statutes and regulations, properties that are contaminated by meth must be cleaned in accordance with standards established by the state Board of Health. These regulations were intended for residential properties, not for commercial or public buildings. 

Testing and Remediation: 

The state guidelines require remediation for any space at a very low threshold of detection in order to maintain safety and prevent health risks associated with exposure: 

  • Screening-level assessments: Required at properties where there is suspected or known methamphetamine contamination. These assessments are often performed voluntarily during property transactions. If any samples collected during a screening assessment are higher than 0.2 micrograms/100cm2, a more thorough preliminary assessment must be performed. 
  • Preliminary assessments: Required at properties where there is suspected or known methamphetamine contamination. If any samples from the preliminary assessment show levels above 0.5 micrograms/100cm2, the property must be remediated.

Screening-level and preliminary assessments for methamphetamine contamination must be performed by a state-certified consultant (industrial hygienist). Remediating (cleaning) methamphetamine-affected properties must also be performed by a state certified contractor that is independent from the consultant. 

Clearance testing is conducted when remediation is complete, and Larimer County Public Health reviews the results to ensure that the property was remediated in accordance with state standards. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has guidelines based on an extensive review of the best available science and practices for cleanup. 

Health risks from being around places where meth was used are generally low in public spaces. However, in homes, apartments, motels, or cars where meth was made or used for a long time, the risks are higher.

Being near meth contaminants might cause:

  • Feeling short of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Feeling dizzy
  • Headaches
  • Feeling sick (nausea)
  • Skin irritation
  • Burns from chemicals

Infants and young kids are more at risk. If you've been to a public place that tested positive for meth, the chance of getting exposed or feeling symptoms is very low. If you're worried, talk to your doctor. 

Meth contains ingredients found in cold medicine, like pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. People without a chemistry background often make meth in basic labs, which is illegal, dangerous, and toxic.

The toxic chemicals used in making meth hurt the environment. For every pound of meth made, up to five pounds of toxic waste are created. Making meth also releases dangerous fumes that can seriously harm anyone exposed to them


FAQs

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  1. What is methamphetamine?

    Methamphetamine, often known as 'meth,' is a very strong and addictive illegal drug that boosts the brain's pleasure center. People use meth by smoking, swallowing, snorting, or injecting it. Even though using meth is against the law, many people still use it in the United States, including Colorado

  2. Where does meth come from?

    Methamphetamine is often made or "cooked" in very basic, secret home 'labs' by people without chemistry knowledge or background. Meth is also produced in large amounts outside the US and brought into the country illegally.

  3. Is manufacturing meth dangerous?

    Yes. The chemicals used to make methamphetamine are very hazardous and toxic. Breathing in, swallowing, or touching these chemicals can cause poisoning, sickness, or even death. Some of these chemicals used to make meth can also catch fire or explode if they're mixed or stored the wrong way.

  4. When is a surface considered contaminated with meth?

    Per the Colorado Regulations, a surface is considered contaminated when a certified sample returns a result measuring 0.5 ug/100cm2 or higher.

  5. If I suspect meth use in my building, am I required to test for it?

    No. If you simply suspect that methamphetamine has been used in your facility, the regulation does not require you to perform testing.

  6. When am I required to test for meth?

    The regulation requires that you test for methamphetamine when one or more of the following three situations exist:

    • Results collected by a certified consultant are positive,
    • Formal law enforcement activity involving meth occurs at the property, 
    • Documented evidence is provided confirming meth has been used, stored, processed, or manufactured within the property. 
       
  7. If I receive positive test samples, what should I do?

    Per the Colorado regulations, any surface known to be contaminated with meth must be properly decontaminated by a certified contractor. The contractor will perform decontamination and then conduct “clearance” testing.  A certified sample with a result of less than 0.5 ug/100cm2 indicates a surface is no longer considered contaminated.

  8. Can I clean up meth contamination myself or require my employees to clean it?

    No. Special training and personal protective equipment are required to perform decontamination, and surfaces known to be affected by meth must be decontaminated by Colorado-certified decontamination experts.

  9. What is secondary exposure to meth and is it dangerous?

    Breathing air or touching surfaces contaminated with methamphetamine residue is considered a secondary exposure.  

    The risks of secondary exposure to meth have not been well studied and there is limited information available. However, in large public or commercial buildings, the health risk of secondary exposure to meth is considered low. In these settings, the risk is considered low because the safety limit for contamination is very conservative and exposure times are likely to be short. 
     

Contact Health

The Health Department has three locations:

Fort Collins office
1525 Blue Spruce Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80524
 

Loveland office
200 Peridot Avenue
Loveland, CO 80537

Estes Park office
1601 Brodie Avenue
Estes Park, CO 80517

To reach us at any of our locations please call: (970) 498-6700
Fax: (970) 498-6772

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