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Nineth Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Nets Two Tons of Waste for Proper Disposal

On Saturday, April 27, over 100 Accomack and Northampton residents dropped off over 2 tons (4,300 pounds) of household hazardous wastes at the 9th Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection. This year’s collection was expanded to three locations at Accomack and Northampton County Convenience Centers in Horntown, Painter, and Birdsnest making it easier for more residents to participate. Residents could dispose of 50 pounds at no cost, which was twice the allowance as previous years. A variety of hazardous materials were collected for proper disposal and recycling including aerosols, gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, insecticides, acids, fluorescent light bulbs, fertilizers, paint thinners, and asbestos shingles.

The Eastern Shore’s landfills are not engineered to handle these hazardous wastes that often illegally enter the landfills or are improperly disposed of by pouring out onto the ground or into a water body. These actions not only increase landfill operating costs putting additional burdens on our local governments, but they also pose a serious health risk to Eastern Shore residents and the environment. All water used by Eastern Shore residents comes from the ground and is very susceptible to contamination from these hazardous wastes which tend to accumulate around everyone’s homes over time. Hazardous wastes create unnecessary health and safety risks at home and every quantity brought in through the collection program ensures that that waste will not pollute our water resources on the Eastern Shore and endanger the quality of our water and public health.

Residents are encouraged to plan for participating in the event which will be held annually on the Eastern Shore every spring with the next collection occurring in Spring 2014. For tips on safer use, storage, and disposal of all types of household hazardous waste please contact Curt Smith with the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission at 787-2936.

The event is a community service sponsored by the Eastern Shore of Virginia Ground Water Committee and made possible by Accomack and Northampton Counties, Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, and NOAA and volunteer work from Waste Watchers of the Eastern Shore.

Contact : Curt Smith, A-NPDC
Phone: 787-2936 x 114
Email: [email protected]

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