MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Commissioners announced that the semiannual household hazardous waste recycling day will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Knox County Fairgrounds. The DKMM Solid Waste District, which handles recycling programs for Delaware, Knox, Marion and Morrow counties, will be collecting household hazardous waste, scrap tires, computers and cell phones for environmentally appropriate processing and recycling.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Linda Montgomery, recycling coordinator. “I always tell people that when I recycle, it’s a patriotic act because I’m saving American resources.”
She added that there’s only so much landfill space available, and she’d rather see land left for agriculture and nature instead of trash. She said the program is an ideal opportunity to recycle the sort of items which can’t be recycled from home, and for a much lower cost than commercial recycling would charge. To help defray the costs for DKMM, a suggested donation of $5 per car and pickup truck, or $10 per large truck or pickup truck with trailer will be requested for the hazardous waste and computers.
The big change this time around, said Montgomery, is that paint will not be accepted for recycling, due to the high cost of processing it for recycling. This will reduce expenses by one-third. Montgomery explained that paint can be safely disposed of at home by opening the old paint and adding kitty litter, sawdust or any type of paint hardener. Once the paint is completely dry, it can be safely disposed of into the local solid waste system.
Household items that will continue to be accepted include flammables, corrosives, toxics/poisons and reactive materials. Flammables include lighter fluid, turpentine, flares, propane cylinders (a maximum of 20 pounds in size), adhesives, kerosene and gasoline. Corrosives include drain cleaner, pool chemical, acids and batteries. Toxics/poisons include bleach, ammonia, weed killers, antifreeze, insect killers, brake fluid, mercury and rat poison. Reactive materials include cyanide, pool chlorine, fertilizers and ammunition of 50 calibers or less.
Scrap tires of any size will also be collected. Scrap tires may be turned in still on the rim. Mandatory charges will be assessed this year on the collection of tires, Montgomery said. All passenger car tires will be charged $1 per tire, with truck tires being charged $4 each. Tractor tires can be recycled for $25 each.
In order to shorten waiting periods, participants are advised to have an exact count of the number of tires they are bringing before entering the fairgrounds. Entrance can be made at the fairgrounds through the East Gate, located approximately a quarter mile west of the intersection of Fairgrounds Road and Ohio 3.
Household hazardous waste events are open to all residents residing in Delaware, Knox, Marion and Morrow counties. Collection events will be held in Delaware and Morrow counties in 2010. During the last recycling event in Knox County, 67,000 pounds of hazardous waste was collected, including 6 1/2 tons of computers and 3 1/2 tons of batteries. A total of 9,374 tires were also collected at the event.
“The recession might keep the numbers down this time,” Montgomery said, noting that last week’s recycling day in Marion County received only about half the number of cars it had two years ago.
Montgomery can be reached at 393-6704 for those who have questions.
