Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Taking Place This Weekend

August 11, 2022

Provided by the County of Bucks:

A household hazardous waste collection event at the Bucks County Community College in the past.
Credit: County of Bucks

Bucks County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program returns this weekend.

Sponsored by the Bucks County Commissioners and the Bucks County Planning Commission, the event will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine, at Bensalem High School at 4319 Hulmeville Road in Bensalem Township

The free collection event offers residents a chance to safely dispose of up to 25 gallons or 220 pounds of common household items such as pesticides, flammables, cleaning chemicals and vehicle batteries, which could be harmful to people and the environment if improperly discarded.

Some types of items cannot be accepted including electronics, explosives and ammunition, latex paint and medical waste.

This event is for collection of residential waste only. No items will be accepted from businesses, industries or institutions.

Additional collections are planned through October at location in Upper, Central and Lower Bucks. Registration is not required this year for collection events in Bucks County.

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. There is a limit of 25 gallons or 220 pounds of acceptable materials per household.

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.

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 hazardous materials loaded in a vehicle or other hot, unventilated areas for prolonged periods
Do not smoke near any chemicals
Take cardboard boxes home to recycle