Article Contributed on: 4/3/2007 9:41:42 AM
In our era of homeland security, most references to hazardous materials consist of weapons of mass destruction, biological warfare and chemical releases. Firefighters, paramedics, deputies and other first responders train to respond to these mega-emergencies to protect entire communities, but these threats also are present in each of our homes.
Homeland security, it turns out, includes eliminating hazardous materials from our own households to protect our families and first responders from icky substances.
For example, a recent fire in a garage destroyed the structure, but it also burned the substances stored inside. We know about our exposure to asbestos, but we don't know how many cans of paint, pesticides, detergents and other chemicals burned and released toxic smoke into our chunk of the atmosphere.
Rather than wait for those materials to burn in an unwanted fire, other residents improperly dispose of them, dumping them into drains, abandoning containers in the woods or tossing them into the trash. In each case, they're exposing all of us -- residents, first responders, sanitation workers, wildlife -- and our environment to hazardous materials.
A better answer is to participate in the Household Hazardous Materials Clean-Up Day on May 5 at Marshdale Elementary School sponsored by a coalition of community partners.
The following household hazardous materials will be accepted:
• Antifreeze
• Vehicle batteries
• Expired medicines
• Insecticides
• Moth balls
• Solvents
• Paints
• Rodent poison
• Used oil/filters
• Weed killers
These substances are considerably icky, and can be inhaled, ingested, injected or absorbed by unsuspecting animals, human and nonhuman alike, simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Each person is allowed to bring up to 25 gallons of used oil (in gallon jugs), 10 gallons of latex paint and five vehicle batteries as well as 75 pounds of other materials for a co-payment of $20. More of those materials will be accepted at $1 per pound.
Clean Harbors will recycle or reuse over 50 percent of the materials collected and properly dispose of the remainder. It does not transport that waste to dumping grounds overseas.
In addition to these substances, electronic hazardous waste will be accepted, building on the tradition established by the Wild Rose Congregational Church, Mountain Recyclers, Evergreen Rotary and Guaranteed Recycling Xperts (GRX).
Most electronics contain significant amounts of lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, phosphorous, lithium and polycarbons, all of which can leach into groundwater and soils when dumped at landfills or abandoned in the environment.
Bring a co-pay to participate in the electronic waste recycling to offset the cost of recycling or disposing of the item. For example, a computer monitor costs the participant $10, a printer is $5, a microwave oven is $5, televisions less than 25" are $15 and TVs 27"-36" are $20 and larger units cost 35 cents per pound.
GRX completely disassembles all items and will provide Certificates of Destruction and documentation of "downstream partners" upon request. They also pledge not to dump the waste in third-world nations.
Bring old cell phones and empty ink cartridges, too, and they'll be donated to Mount Evans Hospice for its ongoing fundraiser.
The International Association of Electronics Recyclers estimates that between now and 2010, over 1 billion computers and over 3 billion other consumer electronics devices will become obsolete. That's a huge burden for the environment unless we all choose recycling over dumping.
Household Hazardous Materials Clean-Up Day will be Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marshdale Elementary School, 26663 North Turkey Creek Road. The sponsors of this new event are the Mountain Area Recyclers, Evergreen Rotary, Clean Harbors, Rooney Road Recycling Authority, Evergreen Memorial Park, Evergreen National Bank, St. Anthony's Central Hospital and Evergreen Fire/Rescue.
Ralston Elementary School, one mile north of I-70 at Exit 254, is a second site for electronic waste, but no other household hazardous materials will be accepted there. Both events are open to Jefferson County residents.
Remember to bring a $20 co-pay, either cash or check made payable to Clean Harbors, to recycle your non-electronic waste and additional money to pay to recycle your electronic waste.
Additional information and a complete list of materials that can be collected are available at www.evergreenfirerescue.com.