Hazardous Waste Collection Facility surpasses one million pound mark
(November 6, 2006) – Discarded house paint, grimy motor oil and lawn and garden chemicals top the list of hazardous material the City’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility has collected since opening in August 2003.
The facility is celebrating the collection of over one million pounds of hazardous waste by providing an indoor/outdoor thermometer to the first 100 Oklahoma City residents that drop off hazardous waste on November 14. November 14 will also be proclaimed “Household Hazardous Waste Day” by Mayor Cornett.
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility receives more paint than any other type of hazardous waste. Below is a breakdown of the most commonly recycled products:
- Paint
- Automotive fluid
- Batteries
- Lawn and garden chemicals
- Insecticides
- Fuels (gasoline, propane, kerosene)
Other waste collected includes household cleaners, glue, pool and spa chemicals, aerosol cans and fluorescent light bulbs.
“Household chemicals are frequently washed down drains, poured on the ground outside or thrown in the trash, where they ultimately pose risks to human health or the environment. We are trying to encourage all Oklahoma City residents to recycle their household hazardous waste. Our goal is to stop improper disposal,” said Facility Manager Lyndel Gibson.
Nationwide, the average home accumulates and stores more than 100 pounds of hazardous waste. “Oklahoma City has approximately 169,000 households. Therefore, residents could possibly hold as much as 17 million pounds of hazardous waste at any one time,” added Gibson.
Residents bringing waste in for disposal can visit the Facility S.W.A.P room and shop from a variety of free, recycled products.
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility does not accept tires, refrigerators, computers, biomedical, and radioactive or commercial waste.
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection site is located within the Municipal Maintenance Facility, at 3738 SW 15. Hours are 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The center is open to Oklahoma City residents only. Bring your City water bill as proof of residency. For more information call 682-7038 or log on to www.okc.gov.
