Georgia's Gwinnett County to Host First Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day of 2024

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Jan. 23, 2024 - PRLog -- Georgia's Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful (GC&B) and its partners at Gwinnett County's Department of Water Resources host two events a year devoted to the collection of household hazardous waste. The first event of 2024 will take place on Saturday, February 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. Event organizers have issued a call for volunteers to haul items from attendees' vehicles to their corresponding stations for recycling or proper disposal.

"Last year alone, through our semiannual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days, we helped our neighbors rid their homes of 90.43 tons of household hazardous waste – much of which was diverted from our local landfills," said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. "For a frame of reference, that's slightly heavier than a single-story, unfurnished, 1,600 square foot HOUSE. The disposal of household hazardous waste requires special care. I'm proud of the impact we're making in that realm. As word continues to spread about these events, I hope we'll be able to divert even more household hazardous waste from our landfills – where they run the risk of contaminating the soil and water nearby or could potentially cause fires or even explosions."

The Environmental Protection Agency defines household hazardous waste as "leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or are corrosive or toxic." Items that will be collected include:

Aerosol/spray pesticides

Automotive products

Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids, and bases

Aerosol/spray paint

Auto batteries

Batteries

Chlorinated solvents

Cooking oil and grease

Fire extinguishers

Flammables

Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts

Insecticides

Latex and water-based paints

Lawn care products

Mercury

Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers

Oil-based paint and stains

Oxidizers

Pesticides

Poisons

Propane cylinders

Solvents and varnishes

Thermostats

Thinners and paint strippers

Weed killer

Wood preservatives

Items like ammunition, radioactive waste, pharmaceuticals, biomedical/biohazard waste, tires, electronics, and paper for shredding will not be accepted at this event. Attendees are permitted to bring up to five containers of household waste. Containers must be the size of a copy paper box or laundry basket, and – since they cannot be returned once removed from the car – disposable containers are recommended. In addition to encouraging Gwinnett County residents to drop off their waste at the event, Marlatt shared the need for volunteers to help ensure the event runs smoothly. To sign on as a volunteer for this and future events, Marlatt encourages interested individuals and groups to visit Volunteer Gwinnett (https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=00...).

Gwinnett County Fairgrounds is located at 2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy in Lawrenceville, and volunteers are asked to report at 7 a.m. on the event day. The second Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day of 2024 will take place at the Fairgrounds in the summer.