I am pleased to announce that New Castle County is partnering with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority to hold Special Household Hazardous Waste Event this Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the New Castle County Government Center. The event is being held from 8am-4pm and is free for all Delaware Residents. Household Hazardous Waste can include items such as household cleaners, garden pesticides, oil-based paints only (no latex paint will be accepted), nail polish, fluorescent bulbs, or antifreeze. This event is restricted to residents’ only, no commercial services. The event will be held rain or shine.  I am also including important information on the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day scheduled for the following Saturday, April 28, 2012.

For future collection events and additional information,  see below…

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority is proud to host special collection events throughout the year. These events include, Household Hazardous Waste Collection, Electronic Goods Recycling and Paper Shredding. Below you will find information on what is accepted at each collection followed by a schedule of upcoming events.

 

Household Hazardous Waste- Product containers marked with words, "Warning: Hazardous," "Flammable," "Poisonous," "Corrosive" or "Explosive." For example; household cleaners, garden pesticides, oil-based paints only (no latex paint will be accepted), nail polish, fluorescent bulbs, or antifreeze.

 

Electronic Goods Recycling- Electronic Equipment such as, old computers, printers, CD players, microwaves, telephones, televisions, game boys, fax machines, answering machines, and VCRs.

 

Paper Shredding- Residents can bring up to 2 file boxes of personal confidential papers for shredding (financial and legal documents, receipts, and tax and medical records). Papers with staples or paper clips are accepted.

 

All events are restricted to Delaware residents and are held rain or shine

April 21 

8am-4pm 

New Castle County Government Building, 87 Reads Way, New Castle, DE 

Household Hazardous Waste Only at this event, no Electronic Goods Collection

April 28 

8am-2pm 

Barley Mill Plaza, Centre Road & Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE

May 5 

8am-4pm 

Jones Crossroads Landfill, 28560 Landfill Lane, Georgetown, DE

Household Hazardous Waste 

May 12 

8am-4pm 

North Star Elementary School, 1340 Little Baltimore Road Hockessin, DE 

Household Hazardous Waste Only at this event, no Electronic Goods Collection

June 2 

8am-2pm 

Lantana Square Shopping Center, Hockessin, DE

For more information on the event or a more extensive list of items accepted during this event, please call the Citizens’ Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com. 

On April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local Delaware Law Enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.