Hazardous Waste Event Totals Announced

OTSEGO COUNTY—The Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste Department held its 24th Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Friday, August 25 and Saturday, August 26. On Friday morning, a satellite event was held in Unadilla at the Town Highway garage. Approximately 170 cars dropped off hazardous materials. The main event was held on Saturday at the Meadows Office Complex in the Town of Middlefield, with approximately 540 cars dropping off hazardous materials. A combined total of approximately 710 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 substances, and solid pesticides. The materials were received and packaged by MXI Environmental Services, the contracted vendor for the collection event.

This was the twelfth year pharmaceuticals and medications were collected. Officer Card and Officer Vencak from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation supervised the collection prior to the County Sheriff’s Office transporting 340 pounds to Oswego County for incineration.

Other items were collected for local processing. Approximately 240 automotive batteries, 2,400 pounds of household batteries, and a substantial number of electronics were collected for specialty recycling.

According to a press release, the success of the collection event can be credited to the assistance of the Otsego County Conservation Association, who 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.

“This was the third highest turnout in the last 10 years in terms of the number of households that participated, said Tammie Harris, director of Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste. “Based on this, I am not surprised by the number of items we received.”

The hazardous waste collection day is an annual public service provided by the Otsego County Board of Representatives. The NYSDEC covers approximately half the funds to cover the costs of this event, with the remainder coming from the county’s Solid Waste User Fee.