ROCKINGHAM- When you start your spring cleaning, don’t just toss those old chemicals from under the sink or from that shelf in the garage into the trash. Richmond County Household Hazardous Waste and Pesticide Collection day is coming.
Each year, the Richmond County Solid Waste Department coordinates the event to allow for safe disposal of household waste. Additionally, pesticides are also collected with assistance from the Richmond County Cooperative Extension and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Richmond County partners with Ecoflo, a company that specializes in the collection, transportation, recycling, and ultimately the disposal of household hazardous waste materials.
This year’s event will be held on April 14 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The collection location will be in the parking lot of the Richmond County Health Services Building.
In years past, Richmond County totals for recycling of hazardous waste have been generally on the rise. In 2014 the county recycled 4.5 tons of Household Hazardous Waste material. By the end of 2017 that number had grown to 6.16 tons recycled annually.
According to Jerry Austin, Public Works Director for Richmond County, “Proper disposal of household hazardous waste is very important.” Data supplied by Austin suggests each household generates about 30 pounds of household hazardous waste annually. “These materials should never be poured down the drain, on the ground, into sewer systems, or even disposed of with normal household trash,” said Austin.
Some examples of household hazardous waste include paints, thinners, glues, household cleaners, nail polish and removers, batteries, grease, oil, pesticides, fertilizers, lighter fluid, pool chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Placing these materials in your household trash puts children, pets and sanitation workers at serious risk.
Many of these materials can be recycled and through the efforts of the Richmond County Solid Waste Department to provide this collection day annually, citizens have an opportunity to take part in this positive environmental impact event.
