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Household
Hazardous Waste Facility
Hazardous
materials appear in people's homes in such forms as paints and stains,
cleansers and polishes, motor oil and antifreeze, and pesticides and herbicides,
computers and fluorescent bulbs, just to name a few.
In the past, the only disposal option for these items in Lancaster County
was placement in a landfill. Seeking to provide a better alternative,
one that adhered more closely to its mission of managing waste in an environmentally
safe and reliable manner, the Authority constructed Pennsylvania's first
permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) in 1990. The collection
center was completed in January 1991 and represented a cooperative effort
by the Authority's staff, Board of Directors, and the Citizens Advisory
Committee. The $275,000 facility was specifically designed to provide
a safe disposal option for hazardous waste items. It allowed for the separation
of hazardous waste items from household trash; which is beneficial to
the environment and minimizes exposure to waste collection workers.
As part of
the Transfer Station Complex renovations, a new drive-through HHW Facility
was constructed in 2005 and opened in the early spring of 2006. The new
facility provides convenient customer access out of the weather. It is
built to meet the local codes based on the types of materials collected.
Many communities
outside Lancaster County hold one-day collection events throughout the
year, during which time residents may bring household hazardous waste
to designated locations. But because Lancaster's HHW Facility is a permanent
collection center, with convenient hours during the week and weekends,
Lancaster County residents are able to dispose of household hazardous
wastes on a continual basis. It accepts most materials free of charge.
The
materials accepted at the HHW include, but aren't limited to:
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e-waste: computers, cell phones & televisions
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fluorescent bulbs (including compact bulbs)
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auto products (transmission and brake fluids, antifreeze, used oil and
batteries)
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floor and furniture polishes & household cleansers
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adhesives
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household batteries
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household (vegetable) cooking oil
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paints & paint-related products (stains, turpentine, thinners, rust
inhibitors)
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pesticides, herbicides & insecticides
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photographic and pool chemicals
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propane tanks
| PA's
only permanent drive-through HHW facility provides FREE disposal
services for all Lancaster County residents. |
In 2009: |
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- 1,636,196 lbs. of material received
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- 959,020 lbs. of e-waste (TV's, computers, etc.)
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- 135,135 lbs. of batteries
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- 109,440 lbs. of flammable liquids
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- 17,227 lbs. of fluorescent light bulbs
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- 281,560 lbs. of latex paint
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- 52,214 lbs. or other materials (pesticides, mercury, antifreeze,
acids and bases, etc.)
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