Montgomery County Holds Hazardous Waste Collection

Montgomery and four neighboring counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania are organizing 26 household hazardous waste collections for residents of the region in 2011. Montco residents can bring hazardous waste materials to any of the sites in the five-county area.

Over 2 million pounds of household hazardous waste and electronics were collected and properly disposed of in the five-county region last year. Household hazardous waste is the discarded, unused or leftover portion of household products containing toxic chemicals.

Hazardous items usually can be identified by labels such as "Warning," "Caution," "Poisonous," "Toxic," "Flammable," "Corrosive," "Reactive" or "Explosive." 

Hazardous waste items include:

• Automotive products such as motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, kerosene and gasoline
• Pesticides/herbicides
• Household products such as drain and oven cleaners, spot remover, dry cleaning fluid and rug cleaner
• Paint products such as paint thinner or turpentine, paint remover, oil based paint, furniture stripper and refinisher
• Products such as dyes, lighter fluids, sealers for concrete or asphalt, propane tanks, swimming pool chemicals and mercury

Latex paint is not hazardous and can be safely disposed of by leaving the lid off the can and allowing it to dry completely, or mixing paint with sawdust or kitty litter.  You may then dispose of it in your regular trash. Empty paint cans should be placed in the trash and not in your recycling container.

Driveway sealers, roof coatings and adhesive cans that are already empty or contain residue that has hardened, should also be placed in the trash and not brought to a Household Hazardous Waste collection site.

The following items will not be accepted:

• Explosives and ordinance material
• Infectious biologically active wastes
• Radioactive material
• Alkaline batteries
• Household appliances like whitegoods, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators and smoke detectors
• Tires

The 2011 collection sites and dates for Montgomery County are as follows:

Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Upper Perkiomen Valley High School, 2 Walt Road, Pennsburg

Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Upper Merion Middle School, Enter near 435 Crossfield Road, King Of Prussia 

Saturday, June 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

, Enter near 473 Cathcart Road, Blue Bell

Thursday, Aug. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Spring-Ford High School, 350 S. Lewis Road, Royersford

Saturday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

, Enter near 1431 E. Butler Pike, Ambler

Saturday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Lower Merion Township Public Works, 1300 N. Woodbine Avenue, Penn Valley

To safely package and transport household hazardous waste the following guidelines should be followed:

• Keep all products in original containers with labels intact.
• Wrap leaking containers in newspaper, and place in plastic bag or garbage container, making sure that all lids and caps are secure.
• Place items securely in box for transport. Use cardboard or newspaper as filler.
• Keep chemicals that will react with one another in separate parts of the vehicle.
• Do not leave material in hot, unventilated areas for long periods of time.
• Do not smoke near chemicals.

Computers, small televisions and computer components will also be accepted at all of the locations. Televisions are limited to units that one person can carry comfortably (typically 60 pounds or less) or 30” and smaller. The sites will also accept cellphones, PDAs, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers and other small electronic devices.

The program is limited to private residents. The amount is limited to 220 pounds or 25 gallons per vehicle, and each container cannot be more than five gallons.

Collection sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call the Montgomery County "Recycling Hotline" at 610-278-3618 or visit  www.montgomerycountyrecycles.org.