Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Service in McMinn and Union Counties on October 20

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in McMinn and Union counties on Oct. 20.

“Our household hazardous waste mobile collection service provides the people of Tennessee with a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other potentially hazardous wastes at no cost,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau.  “This service travels across the state holding collection events in local communities, and we encourage all Tennesseans to take advantage of the opportunity to utilize it.”

On Saturday, Oct. 20, any Tennessee resident may bring his or her household hazardous waste to the following locations.  (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for events.)

• McMinn County – McMinn County High School at Congress Parkway South in Athens from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is April Johnson at (423) 744-2749. 
• Union County – Union County Solid Waste Center at 295 Wolfe Road in Luttrell from 8 a.m. until noon. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Becky Munsey at (865) 992-2666. 

Since the program’s inception in 1993, households have properly disposed of more than 20 million pounds of material.  HHW material is considered flammable, toxic, reactive and/or corrosive and should not be placed with regular garbage.

Typical items to dispose of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, lithium and button batteries, aerosols, adhesives, medications, brake fluid, swimming pool chemicals and paint thinner.  Items not accepted include ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics, medical waste and any items from a school, commercial business or agri-business.

Many counties and municipalities meet the needs of local residents by providing collection of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and electronic scrap – or BOPAE as it is sometimes called.  When handled correctly, these BOPAE materials are minimally hazardous, but inappropriate for collection at household hazardous waste events.  Contact your local city or county solid waste department to find BOPAE collection sites in your area.

When transporting materials to the site, place containers in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper to prevent spills and cross-contamination in the trunk of a car or back of a truck. Be sure to keep materials away from children and pets.  Materials should be kept in the original container whenever possible.  If not, place the waste in a plastic jug with a secure lid and label its contents.

For more information on the household hazardous waste mobile collection service, please call 1-800-287-9013 or visit www.tn.gov/environment/swm/hhw. 

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