September 28 , 2007

Commissioners Announce Final Bucks County 2007 Hazardous Waste & Computeer Recycling Program Date

Collection to Take Place, Rain or Shine, Sat., Sept. 29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Quakertown Community Pool, E. Mill St., Quakertown Borough

Bucks County residents remain steadfast in their commitment to recycling. Throughout 2007, at four sites, the county’s Household Hazardous Waste and Computer Recycling Program has set participation records, including a one-day Bucks record of 1,915 households who took part on July 14 in Warwick Twp.

The program will make the last of five 2007 county stops on Saturday, Sept. 29, rain or shine, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Quakertown Community Pool, located on E. Mill St. in Quakertown Borough. Last year, the Quakertown site drew a record 1,019 participants in 879 cars. Since its 1991 inception, more than 42,000 people have taken advantage of the program, which is sponsored by the commissioners and the Planning Commission and directed by county Recycling Coordinator Lale Byers.

 “This program continues to gain in popularity among Bucks County residents, and we are proud to support it,” said Charles H. Martin, chairman of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. “Furthermore, it is a valuable part of our effort to produce green events throughout the county, in conjunction with employees’ BEGIN (Bucks Employees Green Initiative) Committee.”

"Our regional household hazardous waste collection program provides an opportunity for residents to properly dispose of many materials that are not able to be disposed by any other means, thereby keeping these products from contaminating our water supplies or soils," Byers explained.

Participating households may jettison as many as three computer systems and up to 25 gallons or 220 pounds of hazardous materials at the drop-off points. The program is not open to businesses.
Acceptable items include pesticides (Chlordane, Malathion, rodent poison, etc.), flammables (oil-based paint, paint thinner spot removers, gasoline, kerosene, heating oil), caustics (ammonia-based cleaners, oven cleaner, drain cleaner), toxics (photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, weed killer, antifreeze, mercury), button-type household batteries, lead-acid batteries (car, marine, motorcycle and truck) and propane tanks of 20 pounds or less. Unacceptable items include latex paint, appliances, biological waste, tires, explosives and asbestos.

For additional information about the event, please visit www.buckscounty.org and click on the recycling link, which is located at the top right of the welcome page.