TDEC will sponsor free household hazardous waste collection Saturday at the Van Buren County Convenience Center in Spencer.
TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said the mobile service allows residents to drop off materials such as cleaning fluids, pesticides, and swimming pool chemicals.
“This collection service provides an excellent way to responsibly dispose of household hazardous waste, and we want to make it as convenient as possible,” Salyers said. “We welcome all Tennesseans to take advantage of this opportunity to show their commitment to environmental protection.”
The event is open to all Tennesseans regardless of their county of residence and does not require an appointment. The county will not accept ammunition, smoke detectors, or any empty containers.
According to a Van Buren County press release, the collection will run from 8am to 12Noon at the facility located on Drake & Shockley Street. The press release said acceptable items include mercury thermometers, fluorescent lamps, lithium batteries, aerosols, and medications.
Hazardous materials are defined as corrosive, flammable, toxic, or reactive items that should not be disposed of with regular garbage. Instead, participants should transport materials in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper or plastic to prevent spills.
More than 383,000 households have disposed of some 25 million pounds of material since the program began in 1993, according to TDEC’s website. The state has conducted more than 1,500 one-day collection events since the program’s inception.
