If you’re a typical Westporter, you’ve got stuff lying around your house.
You know: basic hazardous waste.
If you’d like to get rid of it 🙂 but have no idea how or where: Read on.
On Saturday, September 21, 2019, the Public Works Department holds its annual Household Hazardous Waste Day. The time is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the site is the Westport/Weston Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane.
Better yet: It’s free.
As a regional program, it’s also open to residents of Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.
Many items used around the house are considered household hazardous wastes, because they may contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients. For example, check your:
Garage: Gasoline, kerosene, mineral spirits, spray paint, paint strippers, paint thinners, solvents, stains, turpentine, varnishes, wood preservatives, degreasers, etc. NOTE: All paints, stains, motor oil, antifreeze, batteries and light bulbs must be recycled at the transfer station (see below).
Garden shed: Fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, etc.
General household: Bleach, charcoal lighter, cleaning chemicals, drain cleaners, flammable liquids, mercury thermometers, moth balls, pet flea shampoos, rug shampoos, spot removers, art supplies and paints, etc.
Before bringing hazardous household items to the collection site:
- Make sure items are clearly labeled. NEVER MIX CHEMICALS. Incompatible products may react, ignite or explode, and mixed waste may become not be recyclable.
- Keep products in original labeled container.
- Place leaky containers in clear plastic bags.
- Tighten lids of all containers, and pack items in sturdy cardboard boxes lined with newspaper.
- Put boxes in the trunk or in the back of the vehicle away from passengers.
- Leave pets and children home when bringing hazardous materials for collection.
- Keep your windows open and drive directly to the collection site.
- Do not smoke or eat while handling hazardous materials.
REMEMBER: Paint cannot be accepted. Westport residents should bring latex and oil-based paints, primer, stain, sealer, varnish and shellac to the Westport transfer station (Sherwood Island Connector, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 7 am to 12 noon).
The following items are also not acceptable at Household Hazardous Waste Day: ammunition, flares, and commercial hazardous waste 🙁
Questions? Call the Public Works Department: 203-341-1793.
Dan, Thanks for this “heads up”. I just wish that the Department of Public Works would practice what they preach and clean their own toxic dump. For over a year now the Department has refused to remediate and safely dispose of the hazardous waste that was illegally dumped at Barons South under their authorization and direct supervision along with the Park and Rec Department. Test of the parks soil revealed DDT, arsenic and other toxic compounds including asbestos. The safe disposal of this toxic waste requires special handling, per state regulations. Despite repeated requests by Town residents no plans for the safe removal of the waste and the restoration of the park have been forthcoming from either Departments. And the toxic dump still sits there!
OK, no ammo accepted. What about grenades? I recall things got quite lively at hazardous waste day a few years back when a driver a few cars behind me casually mentioned what was in her trunk. Good times.
“As a regional program, it’s also open to residents of Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.”
Is it also open to residents of Fairfield? I live about a mile away from the site.
Fairfield was not listed in the press release.
Fairfield residents may use the nearest public park or school to deposit hazardous waste. Just kidding, of course. From all the news accounts out of Fairfield, it appears that particular program has been suspended…
Putting aside the DPW’s unofficial program noted by Morley, Fairfield’s official hazardous waste collection day for town residents was last Saturday, August 24th. The town sent out a notice by mail sometime late July or early August. It was also on the town website.
https://www.fairfieldct.org/hazwaste/collectionday
Unfortunately, I missed it. I have several containers of RoundUp I’d like to get rid of. That’s why I asked if I could go to Westport.
I was in your predicament a couple of years ago with many containers of Roundup that I didn’t know what to do with and upon reading the helpful tips in the package instructions I found out that a great way to dispose of Roundup is to dump it on weeds in your yard. And as an environmental bonus you can recycle the empty package. Im a little upset at losing the natural landscape of the weeds but at least I’ve found a use for all the Roundup I’ve purchased over the years.
I would not do that. It could get into the ground water and into the local rivers and eventually in the Sound. We’re polluted enough and I wouldn’t want to add to it.
Sherwin-Williams gladly accepts old paints at no charge.
It is difficult for me to understand how the travesty of dumping toxic waste at Barron’s South happened or how the town could let it go on for so long. Someone should really be called into account……..
We’re trying to get some answers. But it’s tough. The town has now gone silent. Even a Freedom of Information request has been ignored.
Despite all that talk about being a Sustainable Connecticut community,
I will admit that it doesn’t look too good at present. It’s pretty disheartening, but I remain hopeful that, in the end, the right thing will somehow happen.