Contact: Richard Dimont, 301-840-2774
For Immediate Release: August 22, 2001

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Offs
Scheduled for Remainder of Year

County Residents will have regular opportunities to safely dispose of hazardous waste materials commonly used or stored in and around the home at a series of drop-off events scheduled throughout the year at various sites around the county.

Materials accepted for collection include liquid oil-based paints, thinners, solvents, pesticides, fuels, swimming pool and photographic chemicals, brake fluid, and batteries containing Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Lithium (Li), and mercury (Hg). Alkaline batteries can be safely disposed of in the regular trash. Oil, antifreeze, and car batteries will also be accepted at the drop-off events, although residents may bring those items to the Transfer Station during regular operating hours. Residents are strongly urged to “home manage” their latex paint and not bring it to Household Hazardous waste collection events. Latex paint is not hazardous and is very expensive to dispose of as hazardous waste.

Residents can:

“Use It Up” by mixing different color paints together for use as a primer coat or on jobs where the final finish is not critical.

“Pass It On” by donating unopened cans of paint. Most schools, community organizations and theatre groups will accept unopened cans of paint, especially white.

“Dry It Up” by simply removing the lid and placing the can in a safe, well-ventilated area. Cans less than one-quarter full will dry in a few days. For fuller cans, add mulch, cat litter, or a commercial latex paint hardener available at most area hardware stores. Empty or dried paint cans may be placed in with the regular household trash. The paint can will be pulled out magnetically and recycled after the trash is processed at the County’s Resource Recovery Facility. For more information call 301-840-2774.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Offs will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the following schedule:

• Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2 - Shady Grove Transfer Station, Frederick Rd. (Rte. 355) & Shady Grove Rd. (use Shady Grove Rd. entrance);

• August 26 – Silver Spring Parking Lot #2 (behind Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission), Georgia Ave. & Spring St.;

• September 23 – Upcounty Regional Services Center, Middlebrook Rd. & Rte. 118, Germantown;

• October 20 – Briggs Chaney Park and Ride Lot, east of Colesville Rd. (Rte. 29) & Gateshead Manor Rd.; and

• November 17 – NIH, Rockville Pike (Rte. 355) & Wilson Dr., Lot 31F/H, Bethesda.