On Saturday, April 24, Smithtown hosted a hazardous waste collection event that turned into a record-breaking day. With 39 tons of waste collected from 860 homes in the township, theTown of Smithtown Department of Environment and Waterways set a new record. This was a record number of residents for a single collection event since the hazardous waste event program began in 2009, according to a press release about the event.
The toxic items collected are prohibited in regular curbside waste pickups.
Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim thanked everyone who devoted their Saturday to serve the community and protect the environment.
“Setting a record such as this one is proof positive that the residents of Smithtown are increasingly more committed to preserving our home and our ecosystem for future generations to come,” said. Wehrheim.
He added despite adding additional collection events to the calendar year, the Town is still seeing growing community participation.
Smithtown Municipal Services Facility employees worked in conjunction with the Department of Environment and Waterways Environmental Director David Barnes and Solid Waste Coordinator Mike Engelmann to safely secure over forty three 55-gallon drums, twenty seven 1-cubic yard boxes and two full 30-cubic yard roll-off containers. Materials were collected and manifested for disposal by Radiac Research Corporation.
A portion of the waste collected for manifested disposal included: waste oil based paints/flammable paints, gasoline, paint thinners, waste gases, petroleum distillates, flammable solids, oxidizers liquids and solids, sodium/potassium nitrates, acids, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, misc. toxic liquids (i.e. Chlordane, etc.) and solids, lacquers, lithium batteries, battery acids and various other toxic compounds.
The New York State DEC is expected to reimburse the Town for 50% of the contractor expense for this event.
The next Household Hazardous Waste events in Smithtown are scheduled for Saturday, July 10 and Saturday, October 2. These events are for Smithtown Township residents only. Proof of residency will be strictly enforced.