County Announces New Schedule Of Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Offs

For Immediate Release: Friday, February 1, 2002

Montgomery County residents will have regular opportunities to safely dispose of hazardous waste materials commonly used or stored in and around the home at a series of drop-off events. The events are scheduled throughout the year at various sites throughout the county.

Materials accepted for collection include: liquid oil-based paints; solvents; paint thinners; batteries containing nickel, cadmium, mercury, silver oxide, lead or lithium; mercury and mercury containing items such as thermostats and thermometers; pesticides, herbicides; photo chemicals; pool chemicals, flammable liquids; gas and gas-oil mix; and fluorescence tubing.

Residents are reminded not to bring latex paint, but to dispose of it at home by using it up, passing it on - through donation -- or allowing it to dry up by either removing the lid and placing in a safe area or by using latex paint hardener available at most paint stores. Latex paint is not hazardous and is very expensive to dispose of as hazardous waste.

Other materials that should not be brought to the drop-off events or to the Transfer Station, are radioactive materials, bio-medical waste, asbestos, explosives and compressed gases, other than butane and propane which may be brought to the Transfer Station during regular operating hours.

Non-residential or commercial waste will not be accepted, and no household hazardous waste will be accepted from commercial vehicles.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-offs will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the following schedule:

March 3, April 14, May 5 and June 2 - Shady Grove Solid Waste Transfer Station, Route 355 and Shady Grove Rd. (use Shady Grove Rd. entrance);

March 10 -- Silver Spring Parking Lot #2, Georgia Ave. and Spring St., (behind Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission);

April 21 - Upcounty Regional Services Center, Middlebrook Rd. and Rt. 118, Germantown;

May 18 - Briggs Chaney Park and Ride Lot, east of Rt. 29, at Gateshead Manor Way, Fairland; and

June 22 - Westland Middle School, Massachusetts Ave., west of Little Falls Pkwy., Bethesda.

For more information, call the Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services at 301-840-2370 or visit the following web site: www.mcrecycles.org.

Release ID: 02-552
Media Contact: Richard Dimont 301-840-2774