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Over 800 vehicles unloaded at household hazardous waste collection event

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Thu, May 12th 2016 11:30 am

Paints, pesticides, waste oil among materials collected; next event June 18 at ECC South campus

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning has announced more than 800 households participated in the hazardous waste collection event held Saturday, May 7, at Erie Community College's North Campus.

These highly popular collection events allow for the safe disposal of hazardous items that should not be thrown out with the regular garbage. In addition, the program helps to improve home safety, reduce pollution and protect the environment.

An estimated 13,644 gallons of paint, 2,800 pounds of aerosol products, 960 gallons of waste oil and 1,650 pounds of pesticides were collected from 827 total vehicles during the five-hour event.

"These events continue to demonstrate the importance of safe disposal for these products, which homeowners find can accumulate in basements and garages, but cannot be thrown out in the regular garbage," Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said. "Thanks to the department of environment and planning and their partners, residents have a reliable and effective way to get rid of these items and have a role in creating a cleaner Erie County."

Other materials collected at the event included an estimated 660 gallons of flammable liquids, 825 gallons of corrosive materials, 220 gallons of oxidizers, 175 gallons of antifreeze, and quantities of mercury, batteries and gasoline.

Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Planning Thomas Hersey added, "Participants in these collection events are glad to have a place to bring these products and realize the importance of protecting the environment with responsible disposal. Working with our partners, we are helping homeowners to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their property by removing potentially hazardous household waste."

The next household hazardous waste collection event is scheduled from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at Erie Community College's South Campus.

For more information, for a full list of items that will be accepted, or for details on how to properly dispose of latex paint, call the Erie County household hazardous waste 24-hour hotline at 716-858-6800 or visit www.erie.gov/environment to see the full flier.

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