Does toxic waste got you down?

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
With the goal of keeping toxic waste out of the landfills in the area, Weston County Natural Resource District will again host Hazardous Waste Day. On Aug. 31, for a cost of $5 or five canned goods for small amounts or $10 for larger amounts, based on the person’s judgment, people will be able to dispose of their hazardous waste at the former Shopko parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., said Lacey Sloan, the district’s manager. 
Hazardous waste is defined as any waste that has substantial or potential threats to the health of either the public or the environment, according to Sloan. The waste collected during the event will be properly disposed of, reducing the effects on people and the environment, she said. 
Items eligible for collection that day include automotive, paints and solvents, lawn and garden waste, home waste and electronic waste, also known as e-waste, Sloan said. Automotive waste includes antifreeze, oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid and car batteries, she said, and people with automotive waste should not mix the fluids before bringing them to the event. 
“Paints and solvents include latex or oil-based paints, paint stripper, paint thinner and wood preservatives,” Sloan said. “People with latex paint in need of disposal are encouraged to open the lid and dry the paint out. If the paint is in solid form, it is not considered a hazardous waste and can be disposed of with regular trash. This not only saves us money but also saves the individual’s time.” 
People can add items such as cat litter or sawdust to paint to help it reach a solid form before it is disposed of, she said. 
Sloan explained that lawn and garden waste includes fertilizers, pesticides, rodent poisons and fungicides. She said that people should not bring their old lawn mowers or string trimmers to the event. Those items can be taken to the local landfill, she said. 
Home waste, according to Sloan, includes bleach, disinfectants, drain cleaner, glues, nail polish remover, household batteries, florescent light tubes, aerosols and lighter fluid. Electronic or e-waste includes computers, monitors, household printers, laptops and televisions. 
“This is a partial list of possible items that can be brought on the collection day,” Sloan said. “If you are unsure, please contact the district office at 746-3264.”
Businesses or people with large amounts of waste should make arrangements with the district before the event, Sloan said. People should use their own judgment as to what constitutes “a lot” of waste. 
The maximum amount of waste that can be collected that day, according to Sloan, will fill a semitrailer, based on past hazardous waste day collections. 
Last year, Sloan reported that $14,000 worth of waste was collected during the event. The largest cost over the years totaled $36,000. She said that one pallet of electrical waste costs roughly $500 to dispose of properly. 
Costs to dispose of waste varies on the load that individuals bring, Sloan said, with five cans of food or $5 being charged for smaller amounts and $10 for larger amounts of waste. Additional monies for the event are contributed by the city of Newcastle and Weston County. 
“We have and will accept larger donations from people who bring waste to the event,” Sloan said. “All the money donated will go towards paying for the event.” 
The canned food collected is donated to the local BREAD office, she said. 
Sloan said Red Giant Oil, Wyoming Refining Co. and the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp help with the annual event, along with other volunteers.