STATE FUNDS AWARDED FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENT

HARRISBURG, OCT. 21 – Just about everyone at some point will have some old motor oil, old cans of paint, pesticides, drain cleaners, degreasers and other car care products that they need to throw away, but according to state Sen. Connie Williams, properly discarding these items can pose a challenge, because they all are considered hazardous household waste.

“These items should not be thrown away with the regular trash, because they can create environmental and public health hazards,” Williams said. “Several organizations have stepped forward to help residents properly handle these waste products. An organization in Delaware County was recently awarded a state grant to reimburse the costs for developing and operating a household hazardous waste collection event. I commend the organization and other communities that offer yearly household hazardous waste collection events.”

The $1,225 grant was awarded to the PA Resources Council in Delaware County under the Pennsylvania Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Grant Program.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, each person in Pennsylvania produces an average of four pounds of household hazardous waste each year for a total of about 25,000 tons per year, statewide.

For those unable to access a HHW collection, the department suggests buying the least toxic item to do the job and buying only the minimum amounts necessary, so there is less waste. Some other suggestions include: checking with others to see if they can use any leftover materials; returning old automotive batteries to sellers (in Pennsylvania, dealers are required to take old batteries when a new one is purchased); and taking used motor oil to a used oil collection site.

For more information about disposing of hazardous household waste and scheduled collections, people may visit DEP’s Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, or call the PA HHW hotline at 1-800-346-4242.