Officials Recap Another Successful Hazardous Waste Collection
OTSEGO COUNTY—The Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste Department held its 26th Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Friday and Saturday, August 15 and 16.
On Friday morning, a satellite event was held in Unadilla at the town highway garage. Approximately 178 cars dropped off hazardous materials.
The main event was held on Saturday at the Meadows Office Complex in the Town of Middlefield, with approximately 348 cars dropping off hazardous materials. A combined total of roughly 526 households took advantage of this free disposal program.
Hazardous wastes commonly found 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. Items collected were received and packaged by MXI Environmental Services, the contracted vendor for the collection event.
According to county officials, this was the 14th year pharmaceuticals and medications were collected. Officer Fetterman from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supervised the collection of 34 five-gallon containers of pharmaceuticals prior to the transfer of custody to the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office.
Other items were collected for local processing, including approximately 2,300 pounds of automotive batteries and an estimated 2,000 pounds of household batteries.
Officials said 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.
The hazardous waste collection day is an annual public service provided by the Otsego County Board of Representatives. The 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.
