As the clock ticks closer to hurricane season, Pinellas County is putting out a call to residents to get a jump on their spring cleaning by disposing of hazardous household materials now. Officials stress the importance of early action to prevent the overwhelm of drop-off centers that tends to hit with the gale force of procrastination as the season's start draws closer.
Historically, a last-minute scramble to clear out items like outdated gasoline and a variety of chemicals has led to crowded facilities and at times, overwhelmed capacity, causing delays and turning locals away. "You’ll have enough to worry about as you prepare for a storm. Don’t wait till then to clear out these hazardous chemicals," Pinellas County Solid Waste Director Paul Sacco conveyed in a statement obtained by Pinellas County news.
Residents are encouraged to utilize the two free drop-off sites dedicated for the disposal of household hazardous waste such as gasoline, oil, paint, and rechargeable batteries. The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Center, situated at 2855 109th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg, welcomes residents from Tuesday through Friday and on the first and third Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meanwhile, HHW North, located at 29582 U.S. 19 N in Clearwater, operates on select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
These services are exclusively available to Pinellas County households. Any visitor planning to drop off waste must bring a government-issued ID to confirm residency. Pinellas officials are hoping that residents heed this call to action, to not only keep their homes and neighborhood safe from potential pollution should a hurricane hit but also to ensure the process of waste disposal is smooth and unpressured.
