Household Hazardous Waste
collection day is coming Sept. 7
IN THE CITY
by Dana H. Fowler
We will be holding our sixth Household Hazardous Waste collection day in early September. Sad to say, this may be the last one that is held due to budget constraints at the many organizations that financially support this important event.
If you have never participated before, this is the year to check your home for hazardous chemicals because there is no guarantee that there will be any future collections.
First, let’s define what Household Hazardous Waste is. The simplest definition is that if the container has the words poison, danger, warning, or caution on it, then it is hazardous. A few examples of Household Hazardous Waste include oven cleaner, drain cleaner, pesticides, battery acid, gasoline, antifreeze, brake fluid, paint remover, solvents, and pool chemicals.
The only Household Hazardous Waste collection day to be held this year in Aroostook County will be at the Presque Isle Recycling Center on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon. There is still time to pre-register for that collection by calling Connie at the Northern Maine Development Commission at 498-8736. The deadline for pre-registration is Friday, Aug. 30th, so be sure to call on or before that date. Pre-registration is required to ensure that what you are bringing to the Household Hazardous Waste collection day will be acceptable and to schedule a delivery time for you, so that you will not have to wait. This is a free event for households, so there will be no cost for participants.
We will not be accepting pharmaceuticals or medications like we have at past Household Hazardous Waste Collection events. If you want to dispose of medications at any time during the year, they can be taken to the police departments in Caribou, Houlton, and Presque Isle 24 hours per day 7 days per week. Medications that are accepted include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and animal medications.
Keeping outdated and unwanted medications, pesticides, and hazardous waste in your home poses a threat to you, your family, your pets, and the environment. Take advantage of this free program to ensure the safety and well being of your family and the environment.
Dana H. Fowler, P.E. is the Public Services Director for the City of Presque Isle. He can be contacted at 760-2712 or dfowler@presqueisleme.us.
