Recology Ashland co-sponsors White City event
Recology Ashland will once again sponsor Jackson County’s only Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day of the year from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, May 7. This popular, free-to-residents event is held at Rogue Transfer & Recycling at 8001 Table Rock Road in White City.
Unwanted chemicals, household batteries, fuels, mercury thermostats and fluorescent light ballasts are just a few examples of what to bring. Residents are strongly encouraged to go online prior to the event and review the lists of what’s permitted and what’s not permitted at RogueDisposal.com.
Businesses wanting to participate may do so one day earlier on Friday, May 6. Unlike Saturday’s residential event, business participation is not free, and an application is required. Business applications are available online at RogueDisposal.com.
Historically, Jackson County’s Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off attracts around 700 vehicles, and collected 51,860 pounds of unwanted hazardous waste last year. Although there is no cost to residents opting to participate, the drop-off comes with a considerable expense paid by three Jackson County waste and recycling haulers: Recology Ashland, Southern Oregon Sanitation, and Rogue Disposal. On average, this expense hovers around $125 per vehicle.
To avoid disappointment on drop-off day, residents and businesses alike should remember that not all hazardous waste is accepted. Paint, for instance, isn’t allowed because the State of Oregon already has PaintCare — a household paint take-back program designed to ensure unwanted paint is recycled instead of being haphazardly dumped down waterways and drains, or tossed into the general waste stream. This program allows leftover paint to be taken back to participating stores, such as Miller Paint, Sherman Williams and Ashland General Hardware. For more information on Oregon’s PaintCare program, visit PaintCare.org online.
Further examples of common materials not accepted at the Drop-Off are medical waste, fluorescent light tubes, biological waste, asbestos, antifreeze, propane tanks, explosives, ammunition, industrial waste, radioactive materials and all unknown wastes. Generally, these materials are not taken because other take-back programs for them already exist.
In addition to the dedicated volunteers who generously give a portion of their weekend to make this event possible, Clean Harbors will provide their on-site hazardous waste environmental services this year. For more information about Clean Harbors, including info about their hazardous waste service process, visit Cleanharbors.com online.
Source: News release from Recology Ashland. Contact Waste Zero Specialist Jamie Rosenthal at JRosenthal@recology.com.
