First County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Of 2018 Set For Saturday

Springtime is often a time to clean out your shed, garage, basement, and cabinets.

If you have hazardous waste that can no longer be used, such as pesticides, cleaning agents, pool chemicals, gasoline and oil-based paint, Bucks County provides a place for you to handle them safely and responsibly.  The first of five 2018 Household Hazardous Waste events will be held Saturday, April 14 at Harry S. Truman High School at 3001 Green Lane in Bristol Township’s Levittown section from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The event is rain or shine.

The program is for residents only; no material will be accepted from businesses, industry or institutions. No electronics will be accepted at these events.

The Bucks County Commissioners and the County Planning Commission sponsor these events.

Acceptable items include pesticides, oil-based paint and paint products, automotive products (gasoline, antifreeze), pool chemicals, degreasers and cleaners, mercury thermostats, fluorescent tubes, fire extinguishers, propane tanks of 20 pounds or less, lead-acid batteries (car, marine, motorcycle and truck), and rechargeable, lithium or button-type household batteries. There is a maximum of 25 gallons or 220 pounds of acceptable materials per household.

Unacceptable items include, but are not limited to: TVs/electronics, appliances, asbestos, medical waste, explosives, radioactive and unidentified waste, large gas cylinders, radioactive waste, tires, and smoke detectors. Latex, water-based paint and alkaline batteries also will NOT be accepted, as they can safely be put in regular garbage collection.

Guidelines for safely transporting household hazardous waste to the collection sites include:

-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 loaded vehicle in a hot unventilated area for prolonged periods.

-Do not smoke near the chemicals.

Last year, the five events in Bucks County drew 4,200 participants, and roughly 215,000 pounds of hazardous waste were collected safely. This is a regional program as the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia collaborate to make it more convenient for residents in southeastern Pennsylvania. For a complete list of items, as well as all event dates and locations in the southeast area, go to www.bucksounty.org/recycling.