Department of Environment & Planning Once Again Teams Up With Community Partners for Popular Service

ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Environment & Planning, in cooperation with the Northwest and Northeast Southtowns Solid Waste Management Boards, Erie Community College, and the Town of Amherst, today announced “Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Days” will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at the ECC North Campus in Williamsville and on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the ECC South Campus in Orchard Park.

Both events, which will be open to all Erie County residents between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., will allow for the safe disposal of hazardous items that cannot be thrown out in the regular garbage, helping to reduce pollution and the potential contamination of groundwater.

“By providing our residents with a safe way to dispose of hazardous household waste, we are helping to take care of unwanted items in a manner that will help us all work on establishing a cleaner, greener Erie County,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “These free events have proven to be very popular and I am pleased we will provide two opportunities later this year for county residents to take advantage of this vital service. I thank in advance the staff for our Department of Environment & Planning and our community partners at ECC, the Northwest and NEST Boards and other event supporters for their efforts in assisting the public.”

WHAT:  Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Days

WHERE:  

• ECC North Campus (enter from Wehrle Drive) on Saturday, May 7, 2016
• ECC South Campus (enter from Big Tree Road/Route 20A) on Saturday, June 18, 2016

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days

ITEMS WHICH CAN BE BROUGHT FOR DISPOSAL INCLUDE:

• Pesticides, Fertilizers, Pool and Household Chemicals/Cleaners (limit 2 gallons or 20 pounds)
• Oil-based paints, Spray cans (limit 10 gallons)   
• Paint Thinner, Stripper and Solvents (limit 2 gallons)
• Batteries (lead acid & rechargeable)
• Oil, Gasoline, Kerosene, Antifreeze (limit 10 gallons)
• Mercury (thermometers, thermostats, metal)

ITEMS WHICH WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED INCLUDE:

• Latex paint
• Automobile tires
• Computers and other electronics
• Appliances
• Pharmaceuticals
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Commercial/industrial wastes

For more information on these events, 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.

Participants may need to verify that their waste products were generated by households.

The May 7 drop off event at the ECC North Campus will be co-sponsored by the Northwest Solid Waste Management Board, while the June 18 event at the ECC South Campus will be co-sponsored by the Northeast Southtowns Solid Waste Management Board.

Support for both events is provided by Erie Community College, Elwood Fire Protection, Inc., NOCO Energy Corp., The Battery Post, Inc., and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.