Plan your September cleanup by recycling paint, household hazardous waste

EC Department of Environment and Planning, partners collaborate on 2 recycling events

√ Clean out your garage or basement and dispose of waste safely

Press Secretary to the County Executive

The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning is joining with partners to offer Erie County households a free way to clean out their garages and basements this fall, by registering to take part in two upcoming recycling events in September. A paint-only collection is being held on Sept. 14 in the Town of Hamburg, and a household hazardous waste (“HHW”) collection in the City of Buffalo on Sept. 28. Both collection events are free, but preregistration is required.

Registration can be completed by making an online reservation by visiting www.erie.gov/recycling or by calling the HHW information line at 716-858-6800. Appointments are limited and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. The specific location for both events will be provided during the registration process.

The Sept. 14 paint-only collection is sponsored by GreenSheen, a company that makes new eco-friendly paint from recycled paint. Erie County encourages residents to pack up their car with any quantity of latex and oil-based paints. Stains, shellacs, lacquers, sealers, varnishes and urethanes will also be accepted at this event. Note: No household hazardous waste will be collected at this event; only paint.

The City of Buffalo partners with Erie County to provide the site and staffing assistance for the HHW collection event being held Sept. 28. Residents are afforded the opportunity to properly dispose of many types of hazardous household materials such as most household chemicals, pesticides, motor oil and gasoline, and all types of paints and batteries. A complete list of acceptable materials is available at https://www3.erie.gov/recycling/household-hazardous-waste-hhw-collection-programs.

Residents not able to bring materials to one of these collections can utilize the year-round option of the Erie County’s HHW voucher drop-off program that allows residents to register to bring up to 50 pounds of eligible hazardous waste to a private facility in Tonawanda at no cost. Preregistration for that service is required and can be done either by visiting www.erie.gov/recycling or by calling 716-998-8073.

Support for these collection programs is also provided by the City of Buffalo, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NEST Solid Waste Management Board, and Northwest Communities Solid Waste Management Board and GreenSheen.