Household Hazardous Waste Day Still Going Strong in 25th Year
OTSEGO COUNTY—The Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste Department held its 25th Hazardous Waste Collection event Friday and Saturday, August 16 and 17.
On Friday morning, a satellite event was held in Unadilla at the Town Highway garage. Approximately 129 cars dropped off hazardous materials, officials reported.
The main event was held on Saturday at the Meadows Office Complex in the Town of Middlefield, with approximately 326 cars dropping off hazardous materials. A combined total of approximately 455 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. The materials were received and packaged by MXI Environmental Services, the contracted vendor for the collection event.
This was the 13th year pharmaceuticals and medications were collected. According to a press release, Officer Timmy Card and Officer Mark Vencak from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supervised the collection prior to the County Sheriff’s department transporting 860 pounds to Oswego County for incineration.
Other items were collected for local processing, including approximately 1,900 pounds of automotive batteries and 2,000 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, the Otsego County Highway Department, Otsego County Building Services, Otsego County Emergency Services, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, NYSDEC, and the efficiency of the crew from MXI Environmental Services.
Hazardous Waste Collection Day is an annual public service provided by the Otsego County Board of Representatives. NYSDEC provides approximately half the funds to cover the costs of this event, with the remainder coming from the county’s Solid Waste User Fee.
