Montgomery County, PA

 

Montgomery County and the four neighboring counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania have joined forces to bring 25 Household Hazardous Waste collections for residents of the region to use in 2010.

 

Montgomery County residents may bring Household Hazardous Waste materials to any of the sites in the five-county area.

 

Over 2 million pounds of Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics were collected and properly disposed of in the five-county region last year. Montgomery County accounted for 802,000 pounds of that total. Due to the popularity of the program and the need to provide more options to the public, a sixth collection event during the work-week has been added in Montgomery County this year.

 

Household Hazardous Waste is the discarded, unused or leftover portion of household products containing toxic chemicals.  Hazardous usually can be identified by labels such as: "Warning", "Caution", "Poisonous", "Toxic", "Flammable", "Corrosive", Reactive" or "Explosive".

 

Montgomery County's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program provides the opportunity to safely and properly dispose of these hazardous materials.  Hazardous waste items include: Automotive Products including motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, antifreeze, kerosene and gasoline; Pesticides/Herbicides; Household Products including drain and oven cleaners, spot remover, dry cleaning fluid, rug cleaner; Paint Products including paint thinner or turpentine, paint remover, oil based paint, furniture stripper and refinisher; and miscellaneous Products including dyes, lighter fluids, sealers for concrete or asphalt, propane tanks, swimming pool chemicals and mercury.

 

Latex paint is not hazardous and can be safely disposed of by leaving the lid off the can and allowing it to dry completely, or mixing paint with sawdust or kitty litter.  You may then dispose of it in your regular trash.  Empty paint cans should be placed in the trash and not in your recycling container. Driveway sealers, roof coatings and adhesive cans that are already empty or contain residue that has hardened, should also be placed in the trash and NOT brought to a Household Hazardous Waste collection site.

 

The following items will not be accepted: Explosives, ordinance material, infectious biologically active wastes, radioactive material, alkaline batteries, household appliances/whitegoods, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, smoke detectors and tires.

 

To safely package and transport household hazardous waste the following guidelines should be followed:
1.  Keep all products in original containers with labels intact.
2.  Wrap leaking containers in newspaper and place in plastic bag or garbage container making sure that all lids and caps are secure.
3.  Place items securely in box for transport.  Use cardboard or newspaper as filler.
4.  Keep chemicals which will react with one another in separate parts of the vehicle.
5. Do not leave material in hot, unventilated areas for long periods of time.
6. Do not smoke near chemicals.

 

Computers, small televisions and computer components will also be accepted at all of the locations. Televisions are limited to units that one person can carry comfortably (typically 60 pounds or less) or 30” and smaller. We will also accept Cell phones, PDAs, printers, scanners, fax machines, copiers, and other small electronic devices.

 

This program is limited to private residents. The amount is limited to 220 pounds or 25 gallons per vehicle and each container cannot be more than five gallons.

 

The collection sites will be open from 9 AM to 3 PM.  For more information call the Montgomery County "Recycling Hotline" at (610) 278-3618.  Also, visit our web-site at: www.montgomerycountyrecycles.org

 

The 2010 collection sites and dates for Montgomery County are as follows:

 

Indian Valley Middle School
Saturday, April 24, 2010
130 Maple Avenue
Harleysville, PA 19438
Lower Salford Township
9 am – 3 pm

 

Temple University – Ambler Campus
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Butler Pike Entrance Only
Student Parking Lot
Upper Dublin Twp
9 am - 3 pm

 

Montgomery County Community College
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Enter near 473 Cathcart Rd.
Blue Bell, PA 19422
Whitpain Township
9 am –3 pm

Abington Junior High School
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Rear Faculty Parking Lot
970 Highland Ave.
Abington, PA 19001
9 am –3 pm

 

Spring-Ford Flex School
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Flex School Parking Lot
833 South Lewis Road
Royersford, PA 19468
Upper Providence Township
9 am –3 pm

 

Lower Merion Twp Public Works
Saturday, October 23, 2010
1300 N. Woodbine Avenue
Penn Valley, PA 19072
Lower Merion Township
9 am - 3 pm