Get your hazardous household gunk out of the house and into the hands of the pros this Saturday. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is rolling out their mobile de-tox trucks into Hamblen, Lincoln, and Rutherford counties on April 6 to take off your hands anything from old pool chemicals to that half-empty paint can lurking in the garage. You don't even have to live in the county to ditch your dangerous disposables.
According to the TDEC, the well-worn paths to these mobile intake sites will be open from 8 a.m. to noon at the Hamblen County Solid Waste and the Rutherford County's Murfreesboro Solid Waste Department. In Lincoln County, the Fayetteville/Lincoln County Recycle Center will welcome waste until 1 p.m. And if you're looking to speak to a human about what you can and cannot bring, contacts like Barbara Horton in Hamblen (423-586-1931) and Bishop Wagener in Rutherford (615-295-9716) are standing by.
David Salyers, Commissioner of TDEC, was all about ease and ecology when he said, "We want it to be convenient for Tennesseans to recycle household hazardous waste, and this collection service is a great way to show that commitment." As told by the TDEC's announcement, Salyers' team is keen on keeping Tennesseans from tossing toxins in with the Tuesday trash.
Since the '90s, more than 24 million pounds of what could've been dire landfill fodder has been diverted thanks to these collection days. You can offload everything from flammable aerosols to pesky mercury thermometers for free. But don't roll up with ammunition, explosives, or regular paint — these are a no-go. Businesses and not-just-households needing to shed their hazardous hues and chemical cocktails can call up for a quote and schedule a drop-off for a fee.
For the stuff that didn't quite make the hazardous cut, like batteries and oil, local BOPAE programs are where it's at. Check with your county or city waste department to find where to take them. Remember to pack your hazards in sturdy boxes when you head out to dispose of them.
