Bucks To Launch 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program

NEWTOWN, PA — Bucks County will launch its 2023 Household Hazardous Waste collection program on Saturday, April 1 with a free collection at the Bucks County Community College on Swamp Road in Newtown.

Between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., household wastes including pesticides, cleaning agents, pool chemicals, gasoline and oil-based paint will be accepted.

This year’s schedule also includes two collection events in Upper Bucks County, two in Lower Bucks and one in Central Bucks.

The second event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at the Upper Bucks Area Vocational Technical School, 3115 Ridge Road, Perkasie (Bedminster Township).

Additional collections are scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

• June 24 at Central Bucks South High School, 1100 Folly Road, Warrington.
• August 12 at the Bucks County Technical High School, 610 Wistar Road, Fairless Hills.
• October 28 at Strayer Middle School, 300 Ronald Reagan Drive, Quakertown.

The collections are sponsored by the Bucks County Commissioners and the Bucks County Planning Commission. Registration is not required.

The events are for the collection of residential household hazardous waste only. No items will be accepted from businesses, industries or institutions.

Here’s what you can bring:

• Up to 25 gallons or 220 pounds of hazardous products. Hazardous products will have cautionary words on the label, for example: Danger, warning,or caution. Other words or phrases that can signal hazardous products include: poisonous, hazardous, combustible, flammable, corrosive, volatile, caustic, irritant, explosive, toxic, use with adequate ventilation, or avoid inhaling

• Acceptable items include: pesticides; oil-based paint and paint products; automotive products (gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze); pool chemicals; degreasers and cleaners; mercury thermostats; fluorescent tubes; fire extinguishers; mini propane tanks of two pounds or less; lead-acid batteries (car, marine, motorcycle and truck); and rechargeable, lithium or button-type household batteries.

• Unacceptable items include, but are not limited to: TVs and other electronics, appliances, asbestos, medical waste, explosives, radioactive and unidentified waste, large gas cylinders, tires and smoke detectors. Please note that if you have water-based latex paint or alkaline batteries, these can be safely put in your regular trash collection and therefore will not be accepted at the collection

Here are some guidelines for safely transporting household hazardous waste to the collection sites:

• Keep all products in their original containers with labels intact and lids on tight.
• Place materials securely in a box to prevent spilling.
• Wrap leaking containers in newspaper and place in a plastic container for transport.
• Do not mix materials.
• Do not leave hazardous materials loaded in a vehicle or other hot, unventilated areas for prolonged periods.
• Do not smoke near any chemicals.

For additional information, visit www.buckscounty.org/recycling.