The first of four Pennsylvania Resources Council household chemical collection drives will be held next week on Saturday, August 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Boyce Park Four Seasons Ski Lodge in Plum.
Residents can bring in car fluids, e-cigarettes/vaporizers, household cleaners, pesticides, paints and other household chemicals. Fees apply for recycling materials. For detailed information, see the PRC website.
According to a PRC press release, pre-registration is required. It helps the PRC plan for expected attendance at events. Allowable fees and quantities are listed on the PRC website. The website notes that these fees cover less than 25% of the program costs. The remaining costs are covered by the State of Pennsylvania, county government sponsors, and grants from charitable foundations and donors.
The events employ contractors who know how to handle the materials. Participants can load what they want to dispose of into the trunk or bed of their vehicle and wait in line in their vehicle at the events while the contractors unload the materials, the website says.
Since 2003, PRC has hosted household chemical collection drives in southwestern Pennsylvania. The program is made possible through the support of many partners and volunteers. According to the PRC website, the drives have directly resulted in the safe disposal of 6 million pounds of household chemicals. Collections of hard-to-recycle chemicals began that same year.
“PRC offers residents numerous options for recycling and safely disposing of a variety of materials not accepted for curbside pickup,” PRC Executive Director Darren Spielman said in the release. “It is important to dispose of these materials properly, as many contain toxic elements that can leach into our waterways or introduce dangerous toxins into our environment, while others contain valuable recyclable resources.”
Three additional chemical collections have been established:
- September 7: South Park Wave Pool, Bethel Park.
- Sept. 21: Fayette County Recycling Convenience Center, North Union Township.
- October 12: Bradys Run Park Recycling Center, Brighton Township, Beaver County.
Visit http://www.prc.org/CollectionEvents for pricing information and registration links.
The PUP is the publication of the striking workers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
