Households get chance to dispose of hazardous wastes, pills Sept. 25
Published 9:00 am Monday, September 6, 2010
Got cans of old antifreeze you don’t know what to do with? Or what about that worn-out computer monitor?
On Saturday, Sept. 25, residents of Lawrence and Scioto counties will get a chance to dispose of items like these and others safely and for free.
That’s the goal of the fifth annual Household Hazardous Waste Event, to be Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Dow Chemical plant on County Road 1-A.
Last year 276 vehicles lined up at the plant site to dispose of a variety of household items.
That one-day event brought in 15 batteries, 868 tires, 1,000 pounds of aerosols, 8,000 pounds of paint thinners, 13,000 pounds of latex paint. 3,400 pounds of flammable liquids and 17,000 pounds of electronics.
This will also be the second year for taking in pharmaceuticals. Last year more than 150 pounds of pills were taken in at the Franklin Furnace site.
“That is a significant amount,” said Dan Palmer, of the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District, sponsor of the event.
On site is a registered pharmacist who will identity the prescription medications, which will be incinerated.
“The U.S. EPA and the Ohio EPA are discouraging people flushing them down their toilets,” Palmer said.
Recently a study by ORSANCO and the Ohio EPA showed a significant amount of medications in water samples taken from the Ohio River.
“Here we are providing an avenue for people to do the right thing,” Palmer said.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office along with the county drug task force are offering additional sites where residents can turn in prescription medications as part of the National Take Back Initiative.
Additional sites for prescriptions only will be at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds and the parking lot of Walmart in South Point.
Items accepted include scrap tires with a limit of six per person; lead-acid batteries, motor oil, brake fluid, used antifreeze, paint, thinners solvents, cleaners with acid or lye, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and computers.
Items not accepted include explosives, trash, ammunition, needles or syringes, yard waste, heating oil tanks, fuel tanks and appliances.
Items should be bought in sturdy boxes; containers must be left.
The event is open only to residents of Lawrence and Scioto counties and proof of residency is required.