The Barton County Landfill will hold its next household hazardous waste collection date from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 20, County Administrator Phil Hathcock said. The landfill, located at 350 NE 30 Road northwest of Great Bend.
Other collection dates at the landfill are from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17. There will also be one collection day in Larned from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Road and Bridge shop, 11th and Trail in Larned.
In addition, one can schedule an appointment 24 hours in advance. They just need to call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The service is available to residential customers only from Barton, Pawnee and Ellsworth counties.
Accepted are household herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, any gardening chemical, household cleaners, automotive cleaners or fluids, all paint related products, and all batteries. Hazardous waste from commercial businesses is not allowed.
Not accepted are infectious waste, radioactive waste, laboratory chemicals, asbestos, explosives or empty or dry containers (these containers can be disposed of with regular trash).
In addition, however, many of the chemicals collected can be picked up and recycled by all residents, homeowners and business owners alike. After his staff has determined what is safe and reusable, it will made available to the public for free.
This includes paint – both interior and exterior grades – as well as cleaning, automotive and other chemical products.
As a side note, personnel mix all the lighter-colored paints together.
For more information regarding recycling, household hazardous waste, or regular household waste, call the landfill at 620-793-1898.
Before bringing household hazardous waste to the collection site:
• Check containers - make sure lids are tight.
• Unlabeled containers should be written on with a marker pen as to what the contents consists of that are inside each container.
• Pack each toxic waste in a sturdy container, such as a tub or box. Line the bottom and pack sides with newspaper or other absorbent material.
• Wrap leaking or dirty individual containers in clear plastic bags and pack each item in a larger container with absorbent material such as kitty litter to soak up leaks.
• Transport materials in your automobile trunk, rear of station wagon or truck bed.
What is household hazardous waste?
HHW consists of household products or chemicals which can cause injury or are harmful if not used, stored, or disposed of properly. Key words found on hazardous products include poison, danger, warning, toxic, flammable, corrosive, explosive or irritant.
Why can’t one just throw HHW away with the trash?
HHW poses a threat to people (particularly children, refuse workers and fireman) pets, and the environment. Soil and water pollution can result from improper disposal of HHW.
The average household contains between three and 10 gallons of materials that are hazardous to human health or to the natural environment. Collectively, these can poison our water if they are not stored carefully and disposed of properly.
To reduce the disposal of hazardous materials:
• Avoid buying hazardous products. Use safer alternatives and read labels.
• Only buy what you need.
• Use it up, unless the product is banned.
• Share it with a neighbor, church group, community service organization.
Household Hazardous Waste Includes:
• Household/cleaningproducts
• Abrasive cleaners/powders
• Bleach cleaners
• Disinfectants
• Floor & furniture cleaners
• Household batteries (lithium and rechargeable)**
• Mothballs
• Oven cleaners
• Photographic chemicals
• Pool chemicals • Toilet cleaners
• Rug & upholstery cleaners
• Thermostats/thermometers
**Alkaline Batteries can be put in with regular household trash.
Paint/finishing products
• Enamel or oil based paints
• Latex or water based paints
• Thinners and turpentine
• Furniture strippers
• Wood preservatives
• Stains / finishes
Automotive products
• Antifreeze
• Transmission fluids
• Brake fluids
• Waste oils
• Batteries
• Fuels
Garden/pest control products
• Pesticides, insecticides
• Fungicides
• Herbicides
• Arsenicals (contain lead arsenic)
• Botanicals (made of plants)
• Carbamates
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons
• Organo-phosphates
• Roach and ant killers
• Rat and mice poisons
• Flea collars and sprays
What not to bring
• Commercial / business or farm waste
• Infectious waste
• Radioactive waste
• Laboratory chemicals
• Asbestos
• Explosives
• Empty or dry containers**
**Dried out and empty containers can be disposed of with your regular trash.
