2007 News

October 5, 2007

Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste & Computer Recycling Program Shatters Records
Final 2007 Event Draws 1,046 Participants, Sept. 30, in Quakertown

The Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste & Computer Recycling collection program is one of the cornerstones of the county administration’s commitment to a greener Bucks County. Over the last five months, residents supported the venture in record numbers, establishing participation records at all five collection venues: Lower Makefield Twp., Bedminster Twp., Warwick Twp., Bristol Twp. and Quakertown Borough. Overall, the 2007 collections attracted 6,033 donators, who disposed of almost 600,000 pounds of hazardous material that might otherwise have been exposed to the environment.

“This program eliminated 300 tons of hazardous material, all at no cost to county taxpayers,” Chief Operating Officer David Sanko noted, referring to the southeast Pennsylvania consortium that funds the program. “It is just another example of Bucks being green before it was fashionable.”

According to county Recycling Coordinator Lale Byers, the 6,033 participants easily topped last year’s record turnout of 5,498. The total poundage of 588,311 was considerably more than last year’s 518,232. In addition, an all-time program single site record of 1,879 was established on July 13, at the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in Warwick Twp.

The program enjoyed a final flourish last Saturday in Quakertown, as a site-record 1,046 participants disposed of an average 110 pounds per person. Last September, the Quakertown event drew a then-record total of 1,019.

Both Sanko and Byers noted that the HHW program is one of the core elements of the county BEGIN (Bucks Employees’ Green Initiative) Committee. County employees are committed to continuing current practices, while constantly examining new initiatives to improve the environment which we call home.