HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE

Click here for Chester County Household Hazardous Waste Schedule for 2008

The Township's trash hauler does not collect household hazardous waste (HHW).  Chester County has drop-off locations four times per year at four different locations throughout the county.  Normally, this collection occurs once at a pre-determined location in April, May, October and November.  Two of the collections would include old computers.

Words identifying HHW are caution, toxic, danger, flammable, warning, corrosive, reactive, combustible, poisonous and hazardous.  Examples of household hazardous waste include: oil-based paints, stains and varnishes; pesticides and herbicides; photographic chemicals; and swimming pool chemicals.  Mercury will be accepted, but it must be packed safely.

Unacceptable materials include water-based paints; explosives; ammunition; appliances; radioactive waste; tires; infectious waste; and unidentified waste.

You can air-dry or absorb latex paint before disposal.   Absorbents include sawdust, clay-based kitty litter or rags.  When the paint has solidified, seal the can and place in the trash.  Motor oil, tires and anti-freeze and be recycled at your local service station.

Home health care wastes consist of used "sharps" such as needles, lancets, syringes and other sharp objects.  It also includes soiled bandages, disposable sheets and gloves.  Prior to disposal, disinfect your sharps with a solution of 1 teaspoon of bleach in 1/2 gallon of water.  All sharps can then be placed in a puncture-resistant, hard plastic or metal container.  An empty detergent bottle or empty coffee can will do.  Close the container tightly with the original lid and secure with heavy-duty tape.  Place sealed container in a paper bag and discard with your household trash.  Place non-sharp home health care wastes in a doubled, securely fastened, opaque plastic trash bag before putting them in your trash can with other wastes.  If you have any doubts or concerns about the disposal of medical wastes, contact your healthcare professional or medical supply company.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs: It the CFL burns out, the EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options.  For care and precautions to use when handling the bulb, consumers can contact the Chester County Solid Waste Authority www.chestercountyswa.org, or the Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org.  CFL's do contain a small amount of mercury, and should be treated with care.  There is also a precise and recommended clean-up process in the event a compact fluorescent light bulb should break.