Household Chemicals Roundup in Parker this weekend

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Tri-County Health Department will be offering three separate household chemical roundups in the area. The first of which is in Parker CO this weekend.

•June 5, 2010 Parker Joint Services Center, 17801 East Plaza Drive, Parker – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Aug. 14, 2010 Shea Stadium, 3270 Redstone Park Circle, Highlands Ranch – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Sept. 11, 2010 Town of Castle Rock Utilities, 175 Kellogg Ct., Castle Rock – 9Go Green in Douglas County Household Chemical Roundup a.m. to 3 p.m.
Douglas County residents have a safe, green, environmentally conscious place to get ride of the following:

* paint and paint products,
* motor oil,
* antifreeze,
* rechargeable batteries,
* vehicle batteries,
* house and garden chemicals
* pool chemicals,
* fluorescent light bulbs,
* CFLs,
* fire extinguishers,
* fireworks,
* ammunition,
* items containing mercury,
* propane tanks, helium tanks,
* passenger vehicle and pickup truck tires.

In 2009, a total of 2,185 Douglas County households participated in Douglas County’s Household Chemical Roundups, safely disposing of more than 84 tons of hazardous materials. This included 11,085 pounds of pesticides, 405 pounds of mercury-containing devices, 4,818 gallons of hazardous liquids and more than 66 tons of paint. If not for the Roundups, this waste might have ended up in creeks and rivers or disposed of illegally on other people’s property. (Stats taken from the Tri County Health Website)

Douglas County does a great job of trying to make this process as easy and painless as possible and you don’t even need to get out of your car. Volunteers are there to unload the materials from your car all you need do is drive up. The event is free, however a $25 contribution is asked for to help offset the costs. An average family would pay more than $100 if a private company were used. Participants will be asked for a driver’s license, water bill, utility bill or phone bill to verify residency.

The Douglas County Roundups are not able to accept:

* radioactive waste,
* smoke detectors,
* scrap metal,
* oil drums,
* asbestos,
* explosives stronger than fireworks, or any compressed gases other than propane.

Tip: If you have latex paint products, the best way to dispose of them is to let them dry naturally which doesn’t take long in our climate, or use kitty litter, sand or dirt to speed the process and then put with your regular garbage.

Volunteers are always needed and appreciated at the event to help with registration,unload items, and waste processing. Volunteers get free food throughout the day, a gift for helping and free disposal for themselves. Individuals and groups interested in helping with either of these events or have any other questions about the event should contact Ethan Novikoff at 720.322.1508.

For more information, visit www.tchd.org/householdchemical.htm or call the 24-hour
Household Chemical Roundup Infoline at 303.846.6249.