Motor oil, paint, paint thinner, household and car batteries are only some of the types of hazardous items that can be brought to the Household Hazardous and E-Waste roundup this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The entire process only takes a few minutes and you never have to leave your car.
The roundup will be held at the Rio Hondo Fire Training Academy in the city of Santa Fe Springs located at 11400 Greenstone Avenue.
Joe Reilly, senior engineer in charge of the Hazardous Waste roundup said that the event is becoming more popular every year.
A couple years ago they started collecting e-waste that is electronic equipment such as computers and TVs. Since then, the program has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of people attending.
“People want to get rid of their old computers and electronics and this is a way for them to do it properly,” Reilly said.
More than 1400 cars passed through this particular event area last year and they collected over 11,000 pounds of e-waste, 300 batteries, 8,000 gallons of paint and 1,200 gallons of motor oil.
From some of the paint collected, latex paint could be recycled and used for painting over graffiti in local cities.
Some household items are too toxic to place in the trash and there is a proper way to dispose of hazardous waste and e-waste.
On Saturday, Los Angeles County residents will have a chance to safely dispose hazardous waste free of charge.
Alsoo many common household products can pose a hazard to the environment if disposed of improperly.
Household E-Waste is described as consumer electronic equipment near the end of its useful life such as computer monitors and televisions. Electronic waste is a growing problem in communities, although many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled, including items such as VCRs, stereos, fax machines, copiers, computer keyboards and cellular telephones.
Roundup workers will recycle what they can and properly dispose of that which can’t be recycled.
They advise residents to leave the products in their original container, then place them in a cardboard box and drive to the site.
Things to bring:
Motor oil, oil filters, brake fluidUsed antifreezePaint, paint thinner, turpentine Cleaners with acids or lye. Pesticides and herbicides. Household batteries and car batteries.Pool ChemicalsCRT’s, old TV’s, misc. electronicsUnwanted or expired pharmaceuticalsMercury thermometers or thermostats
Things not to bring:
ExplosivesAmmunitionRadioactive materialsTrashTiresWaste from businesses will not be accepted. White goods (stoves, fridges, etc.)
How to prepare:It is illegal to transport more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste in your personal vehicle.Bring items in a sturdy box, preferably in their original labeled containers. Be prepared to leave your containers. Do not mix products together.
The free Countywide Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste Roundup is sponsored by the County of Los Angeles and presented by the Department of Public Works and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, in cooperation with the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritos, Compton, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, Paramount and Signal Hill.
For more information on household hazardous waste or upcoming Roundups, call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at 1 (888)-CLEAN-LA, the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County at 1-(800)-238-0172.
