Smithtown Disposes Of 11 Tons Of Hazardous Waste

KINGS PARK, NY — The Town of Smithtown collected and disposed of more than 11 tons — 22,340 pounds — of waste at its Hazardous Household Waste event on Saturday.

The event, hosted by the town's department of environment and waterways, saw 351 households in the township drop off toxic items prohibited in regular curbside garbage pickups at the Smithtown Municipal Services Facility in Kings Park.

The safe disposal negated the risk of the toxic materials entering the environment, said David Barnes, the town's environmental protection director.

"It is only through the participation of so many residents that we can continue to keep Smithtown beautiful," Barnes said.

Residents got to pick up bags of free mulch after dropping off hazardous household waste, according to the town. The town also gave out reusable shopping bags to promote recycling.

Hazardous waste that residents dropped off include oil-based paints or flammable paints, gasoline, paint thinners, waste gases, petroleum distillates, flammable solids, oxidizers liquids and solids, sodium/potassium nitrates, acids, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, toxic liquids and solids, lacquers, lithium batteries, battery acids and various other toxic compounds.

Covanta provided $5 Home Depot gift cards to more than 60 residents for recycling potentially dangerous lithium-ion and other batteries, propane tanks and mercury containing devices. More than 1,000 pounds of these materials were recycled.

The next collection event is scheduled for Oct. 7. Hazardous Household Waste collection events are for Smithtown township residents only, and the town asks for proof of residency.