WESTFIELD – The Health Department is sponsoring a household hazardous waste collection this Saturday at the Twiss Street transfer station,
Acting Health Director Joseph Rouse said that the department has been conducting the household hazardous waste collection for more than two decades and that residents are “generally aware” of what they can bring and what they cannot bring. The program was initially held in the City Hall parking lot, but was moved to the transfer station because that facility has better logistics due to the fact that oil-based paint, stains, varnishes, used motor oil, and antifreeze are collected the first Saturday of every month.
“Paint is not considered a hazardous waste material,” Rouse said. “I’d rather let people know that, rather than having them wait in line for 45 minutes and finding out they could have come up on the first Saturday of the month.”
Rouse said that latex paint can be dried out and disposed of in the regular trash collection.
The department has budgeted up to $8,500 under an open contract with the hazardous water collector, PSC of Rhode Island, which also had the contract last year.
The collection is intended to allow residents to dispose, safely, of household chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, mothballs, solvents, thinners, adhesives, lighter fluid, transmission fluid; waste fuels such as gasoline and kerosene; degrease fluids, carburetor cleaner, brake fluid, car wax, flea powder, hobby and art supplies, fiberglass resins, photography chemicals, chemistry sets, polishes, spot removers, pool chemicals, 20-pound compressed gas containers, and aerosol cans.
The contractor will not collect firearms ammunition, fireworks, explosives, infectious biological waste, prescription medicines, syringes, Penta brand wood preservatives, commercial or industrial waste, asbestos, smoke detectors, radioactive waste, and pesticides containing 2-4-5 T. Silvex.
The collection is being conducted from 9 a.m. until noon.
Residents are urged to bring materials in the original containers with labeling intact to assist with the disposal process. Residents should ensure that caps and lids are properly secured to prevent spillage during transport to the Transfer Station. Residents should avoid smoking in their vehicle during transport of the chemical because of the danger of flammable vapors.
The facility is open the first Saturday of the month between 7 and 11:45 a.m. for disposal of oil-based paint, stains, varnishes, motor oil, and antifreeze.
