Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 at Rogue Transfer & Recycling LLC
***Paint will not be accepted at this year’s event***
WHITE CITY, OREGON — In a cooperative effort between Rogue Disposal & Recycling, Recology Ashland Sanitary Service, Allied Waste and Southern Oregon Sanitation (S.O.S.), the 20h annual “Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days” will take place this Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rogue Transfer & Recycling Station, 8001 Table Rock Road, White City. Jackson and Josephine County residents can bring in their hazardous waste materials for a $5 charge, which includes the first cubic yard of hazardous waste (six 32-gallon trash cans filled level).
No paint of any kind will be accepted at this year’s event. Several local paint stores are now accepting unwanted paint year round. Visit www.paintcare.org and enter your zip code to find a participating store in your area.
This event meets a large need in the community. Just a few decades ago, many people didn’t understand the serious environmental damage that would result when waste containing heavy metals like mercury or toxic chemicals like ethylene glycol (used in antifreeze) were dumped down the drain or thrown in the garbage can. Today, most citizens are better educated about the risks, but still may not know where to properly dispose of these and other hazardous waste products. Either circumstance can lead to improper disposal which is exactly what Allied, S.O.S., Recology, and Rogue Disposal hope to avoid through offering this special event.
Items that will be accepted May 6 and 7 include: cleaning supplies such as window cleaner, drain cleaner, bathroom cleaner and any products containing bleach or ammonia, old pesticides and insecticides, swimming pool chemicals, weed killers not currently approved for use, old paint removers, old or toxic wood preservatives, light ballasts, batteries, and thermostats containing mercury.
Unacceptable items include paint of any kind, fluorescent light tubes, medical or biological waste, explosives, radioactive materials, ammunition, commercial or industrial waste, asbestos, 55-gallon drums, propane tanks, metal canisters, or fire extinguishers. In addition, the transfer station cannot accept waste in containers larger than five gallons.
In conjunction with the hazardous waste drop off event, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is sponsoring a thermometer exchange in which the public can trade in their old mercury thermometers for a free new, safer digital thermometer. One per customer while supplies last.
For more information, please visit www.recologyashlandsanitaryservice.com, www.roguedisposal.com, or contact Denise Wolgamott at (541) 608-1023 or dwolgamott@roguedisposal.com.