Residents encouraged to dispose of hazardous waste on Saturday

Posted: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9:03 pm

Syacy Jordan, drops off oil basd paint to OCRC employees J.T. Jones and Harold Anderson

By DONNA RYDER
Associate Editor
Throughout the month of May, the Obion County Recycle Center has been collecting oil-based paint.
Now, area residents who have other hazardous materials which need to be disposed of may gather them and take them to the recycle center as well, but only this Saturday. Household hazardous waste is defined as corrosive, flammable toxic or reactive materials used in your home, car or truck, garden and lawn.
The annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held at the center, located at 1003B Mount Zion Road in Union City, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Last year, 5,041 pounds of household hazardous waste was collected on the designated day. Previous years included 6,191 pounds in 2009, 12,409 pounds in 2008, 8,748 pounds in 2007, 8,151 pounds in 2006 and 5,138 pounds in 2004. No event was held in 2005.
Director Mike Cary said for 2008-09, the state set a goal of 20 percent of household collection per county. Obion County’s rate was 33 percent for 2009. The goal increased in 2009-10 to 25 percent and Obion County reached 29 percent that year.
Cary said last year’s event cost $4,836.32, with the amount covered by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. This year’s bid was awarded to contractor Clean Harbors. The money used by TDEC to pay for the event comes from a surcharge per tonnage of disposal being paid from all Class I & III / IV landfills in the State of Tennessee.
On Saturday only, the collection site will accept:
• Automotive/marine products — oil/fuel additives, grease/rust solvents, naval jelly, carburetor/fuel injector cleaners, starter fluids, body putty, antifreeze/coolant and gasoline;
• Home maintenance/improvement products — oil-based paint, used strippers/thinner, adhesives, driveway sealant, roofing tar, wallpaper remover and stains/varnishes;
• Home lawn/garden products — Pesticides, fertilizers and wood preservatives.
• Miscellaneous — pool chemicals, photo processing chemicals, medicines/drugs, aerosols/compressed gas, mercury thermostats and thermometers, fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent bulbs.
The collection site will not accept:
• Medical/biological — needles/sharps, infectious wastes, dead animals and any waste from a doctor’s office, clinic or veterinarian’s office;
• Explosives/ammunition — fireworks, military ordnance, gun powder and ammunition;
• Radioactives — smoke detectors and radium paint;
• Business/institutional waste — waste from no businesses, large or small; no colleges or universities; no schools; no hospitals; no home improvement or painting contractors and no agribusiness.
• Miscellaneous — empty containers of any kind; automotive gas tanks, laboratory chemicals and cooking oil.
Waste must be kept in its original container and should not be mixed with other chemicals.
Small amounts of latex paint can be dried until solid and thrown away in regular garbage. Alkaline batteries can also be thrown away in regular garbage.
Collection Day is sponsored by Obion County and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Residents are encouraged to bring only items for the Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday.
There is a 100-pound limit per family.
Cary said a new program has been started to allow small businesses to “piggy back” the area event. It is called CESQG “Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators.” To participate, businesses must have an appointment. For a quote and or an appointment, they are asked to call Clean Harbors at (615) 643-3170 or e-mail them at TNCESQG@cleanharbors.com.
The recycle center is open daily Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. to accept recyclable items. These items should not be brought this Saturday.
The center accepts:
• Cardboard/paper — corrugated, paper board, office paper, school paper, food boxes, magazines, junk mail, phone books, old books, newspaper, shredded papers, miscellaneous paper (separate as cardboard products and boxes, mixed paper with junk mail, primary white paper, documents to be shredded and newspaper);
• Plastics — Code 1 PETE: soft drinks, juice and water bottles, some cleaners and detergent bottles, some cooking oil and peanut butter jars; and Code 2 HDPE: milk jugs, bleach bottles, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, plastic grocery bags, household cleaners and some butter tubs (items should be rinsed and divided by code);
• Aluminum cans — rinsed out;
• Used motor oil — for do-it-yourselfers, up to five gallons per visit;
• Used car/truck oil filters — don’t just throw them in the trash, they still contain a significant amount of oil;
• Waste tires — passenger, LT, lawn, motorcycle, ATV, bicycle and tubes. Up to eight passengers/LT tire will be free per household per year, otherwise a small fee per tire required after that.
• Used electronics — computers, monitors, peripherals (keyboards, mouse) printers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, microwaves, telephones, cell phones, pagers, video game consoles, PDAs, radios, stereos, VCR and DVD players and televisions.
The center cannot recycle cellophane/plastic wrap, wax paper or styrofoam. It can only accept hazardous waste materials on the special collection day each year.
The center also can recycle up to 50 pounds of paper per household per visit at no charge, Large loads from small businesses/industries can also be shredded. A small donation is welcome, but no required. Gator clips and paper clips must be removed prior to shredding.
For more information, call director Mike Cary at 885-8109.
Associate Editor Donna Ryder can be contacted by e-mail at dryder@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 5.17.11