Letter from Kyle King

Hazardous Waste Event a Success

The Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste Department held its 27th Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15.

On Friday morning, a satellite event was held in Unadilla at the town highway garage. Approximately 158 cars dropped off hazardous materials. The main event was held on Saturday at the Meadows Office Complex in the Town of Middlefield, with approximately 317 cars dropping off hazardous materials. A combined total of approximately 475 households took advantage of this free disposal program.

Hazardous wastes commonly found from around the home were collected throughout the day, including liquid and solid wastes such as pesticides, lubricants, paint, cleaning chemicals and solvents, flammable liquids, corrosive materials, and solid pesticide materials. In total the event helped dispose/recycle approximately 33,694 pounds of hazardous waste. The materials were received and packaged by MXI Environmental Services, the contracted vendor for the collection event.

Other items were collected for local processing, including approximately 1,520 pounds of automotive batteries and an estimated 1,500 pounds of household batteries.

The success of the collection event can be credited to the assistance of the Otsego County Conservation Association, which helps to organize volunteers, the Town of Unadilla, Otsego County Highway, Otsego County Building Services, Otsego County Emergency Services, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office and the efficiency of the crew from MXI Environmental Services.

The hazardous waste collection day is an annual public service provided by the Otsego County Board of Representatives. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides approximately half the funds to cover the costs of this event, with the remainder coming from the county’s Solid Waste User Fee.

Kyle King
Waste Management and Recycling Coordinator
Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste