Residents in Coffee, Decatur, and Dickson counties are about to get an assistance in the form of a mobile household hazardous waste collection service this Saturday, September 21. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is deploying their mobile collection units to offer a waste disposal option for items like cleaning fluids, pesticides, pool chemicals, and old mercury thermometers that can’t go in the regular trash.
In an endeavor to make the disposal process easier for Tennesseans, the TDEC has announced that you don't even need to be a resident of the county to drop off your hazardous materials. According to a release by TDEC, collection service will be available at Tullahoma Public Works in Coffee County, the Fairgrounds Convenience Center in Decatur County, and the Dickson County Fairgrounds with varying times to accommodate as many people as possible.
The hazardous waste collection service this weekend is free for households, so you can drop off your items at no cost. However, businesses and non-household entities looking to dispose of Very Small Quantity Generator Waste will need to schedule an appointment and pay. Contact the provided number for a price quote.
Items like batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, and electronics aren’t included in this collection event but can usually be handled locally and Tennesseans are urged to get in touch with city or county solid waste departments for disposal options. "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," said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers in the statement, when transporting materials to the site, do remember to pack them safely, secure containers using sturdy boxes, line them with newspaper or plastic, and keep them away from children and pets.
Since getting off the ground in 1993, the number of Tennesseans who've taken advantage of this service clocks in at over 373,000 households, with more than 24 million pounds of waste having been collected at over 1,500 events.
