Following its inaugural visit to Champaign County last month, the North Central Ohio Solid Waste District’s new mobile truck is returning to Urbana to collect household hazardous waste during each of the next five months.
The mobile truck is scheduled to make several more stops this year in Urbana on the following dates: June 21, July 19, Aug. 30, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25.
The mobile drop-off truck will set up shop from 9 to 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Champaign County Community Center, 1512 S. U.S. Route 68.
County residents wishing to safely dispose of household hazardous waste can make an appointment to stop by the mobile site by calling 937-642-7283.
There is a cost to use the service of $1 per pound (cash or check accepted), and any individual caught leaving items without an appointment will be prosecuted for illegal dumping, officials say.
Accepted items
Individuals using the mobile service are asked to make sure all items are clearly identified.
While the $1 per pound charge applies to most items, NCOSWD Executive Director Dennis Baker said there are exceptions.
For instance, he said, there is no charge for unopened items as those are collected and donated to area restores.
There is also no charge to dispose of fireworks, ammunition or lead acid batteries. There is an additional charge of 50 cents, however, for each fluorescent bulb.
Items from the following categories will be accepted at a cost of $1 per pound: automotive products (gasoline, waste oil, etc.), batteries (no alkaline), home maintenance (paint, sealers, etc.), fluorescent lights, garden products (fertilizer, pesticide, etc.), hobby products (photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, etc.), pest products (flea powder, shampoo), mercury (thermometers, thermostats), cleaning products (drain cleaners, aerosol cans, etc.) and personal care products (perfumes, nail polish, etc.).
As for alkaline batteries and latex paint, Baker said those items are deemed nonhazardous and can be tossed into the trash. When disposing of latex paint, it should first be thickened with a drying agent like cat litter.
