Hazardous Waste Day moves

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Anyone who wishes to keep hazardous waste out of the landfills is invited to visit Weston County Natural Resources Hazardous Waste Day at the Newcastle Elementary School parking lot on Aug. 29. For a cost of $5 or five canned goods —  or $10 for larger amounts — people will be able to dispose of their hazardous waste from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to Caleb Carter, Weston County’s new Natural Resource District manager. This year the event moves from the old Shopko parking lot to Newcastle Elementary School’s parking lot, east of the U.S. Highway 16 and 85 intersection.
Carter’s first project with the district will be hosting the annual Hazardous Waste Day, allowing him to jump right in and interact with the community right away. Carter, his wife Loleen, and their five children relocated to Weston County from Torrington where he has spent the last seven years as the Extension educator with the University of Wyoming. Relocating to the Black Hills was something the family always considered, and when the opportunity came up to join the Weston County Natural Resource District, Carter said his family couldn’t pass it up. 
Not only does the Carter family look forward to being closer to extended family members, the proximity to their favorite outdoor activities, including hiking and camping, is an extra bonus. 
“Also, the job itself is really interesting. I enjoy working with people and in Extension it was a lot of working with the agriculture community and answering questions, making ag better for people,” Carter said. “That is basically what the Natural Resource District is trying to do as well but they are able to provide different ways…  The district has money and resources, they are at the heart of ag and helping people.”
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 Carter. The waste collected during the event will be properly disposed of, reducing the effects on people and the environment, he 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, Carter explained. Automotive waste includes antifreeze, oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid and car batteries. Automotive waste fluids should not be mixed prior to bringing them to the event. 
“Paints and solvents include latex or oil-based paints, paint stripper, paint thinner and wood preservatives,” Carter 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 individuals 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. 
Carter explained that lawn and garden waste includes fertilizers, pesticides, rodent poisons and fungicides. He 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.
Home waste, according to Carter, 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.