494 County Households Participated

In Hazardous-Waste Collection Day

COOPERSTOWN – Some 494 households took advantage of Otsego County’s 17th annual Hazardous-Waste Collection Day the weekend of Sept. 5-6, the county Planning Department announced today.

In all, 362 cars dropped off material from 378 households the Meadows Office Complex in the Town of Middlefield.  The evening before at the Unadilla town garage, 110 cars dropped off material from 116 households.

Hazardous wastes commonly found from around the home were collected throughout the day, including pesticides, lubricants, paint, cleaning chemicals and solvents.   Also, flammable liquids, corrosive materials and solid pesticide materials.  The material was packaged and shipped away by MXI Environmental of Langhorne, Pa.

This was the fifth year pharmaceuticals and medications were collected free of charge. Conservation officers supervised the collection; sheriff’s deputies then 150 pounds to Oswego County for incineration.

In addition, 75 car batteries were collected by Interstate Battery of North Central and l34 obsolete propane tank cylinders and 60 small propane cylinders by Suburban Energy Services.

Volunteers poured 350 gallons of latex paint into bulk containers.  It will be re-mixed by Golden Artist Colors of Chenango County for eventual re-distribution to local not-for-profit agencies.  If interested, call 547-4225.

The county Planning Department, which organized the collection day, thanked volunteers from OCCA, Oneonta Job Corps and SUNY Oneonta’s Center for Social Responsibility & Community, and the MXI Environmental crew.

Done annually as a public service, the county Board of Representatives and DEC share the cost.