Household Hazardous Waste Collection Set for April 16

Wondering what to do with those leftover solvents, fertilizers, insecticides and other things in your garage, basement or closets?

The first of this year’s seven planned household hazardous waste collections runs from 8 a.m.to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16. Residents, living east of I-94, can drop off items at the collection site located at 6200 21st Street, just north of the former Sam’s Club.

“We run the gamut—old solvents, oil-based paint, floor cleaner. It’s almost like a history lesson. We’ll see cans and boxes of stuff that’s 50 years old,” says Keith Haas, general manager of the Racine Water & Wastewater Utilities, which organizes the hazardous waste drop-off.

Last year’s collection program took in about 71,000 pounds of materials from households in Racine, Caledonia, Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Elmwood Park, Wind Point and North Bay. The disposal prevented the hazardous waste and chemicals from entering the area’s watershed, including Lake Michigan, which supplies much of the local water supply.

“It really affects both ends of the spectrum,” says Haas. In addition to keeping hazardous materials out of the water supply, the program keeps the materials from being landfilled where the water eventually leeches into the city’s wastewater treatment system.

The household hazardous waste collection is held the third Saturday of the month from April through October. Items accepted at the drop-off site include household products (metal cleaners, compact fluorescent light bulbs, floor wax stripper, used cooking oil); home improvement materials (adhesives, cleaners, oil-based paint/varnish); automotive (brake fluids, degreasers, fuel); and yard/garden (fertilizers, insecticides, swimming pool chemicals.)

All collected materials are disposed of in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. More information on the program is available at the City of Racine Wastewater Utility website: (http://www.cityofracine.org/wastewater.aspx).

In addition to hazardous household wastes, the drop-off site will accept unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medicines from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 16 and again on October 15. Haas said that these chemicals aren’t always removed by the wastewater treatment process and can potentially enter the water supply.

All items, including pills, liquids, sprays, vials and pet medication in original containers, should be placed in sealed bags. Donors should cross out their names but leave the medication visible. For details, contact the Central Racine County Health Department at 898-4460.

Dates for the household hazardous waste collection this year are: April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17 and October 15.