A Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection and recycling of electronics, tires and paper will be held on Saturday, October 3rd, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Joseph County Annex II – the MSU Extension office parking lot – in Centreville.  In essence, it will be FOUR PROGRAMS in ONE DAY.

For disposal of HHW, read the label for warning words like flammable, corrosive, danger, and toxic.  The following are a few examples of acceptable items:  acid, adhesives, mercury, pesticides, and solvents.  Latex paint and waste oil are not accepted.  The hazardous waste collection is only for St. Joseph County households.  However, the electronics recycling is open to businesses.

The number of old televisions headed to the trash due to the Analog-Digital Switchover this year could be staggering.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Each used television screen and computer monitor can release 3 to 8 pounds of lead.”  Other toxic chemicals that are found in some electronics include cadmium, mercury, chromium and hazardous flame retardants.  Televisions, computers and other electronic equipment also contain substances such as glass, metal, plastic and certain chemical compounds that can be recovered and recycled.

The electronics collection will accept items such as computers, keyboards, mice, laptops, printers, cell phones, VCRs, DVD players, video game players, and televisions.  Due to the high cost of recycling televisions, there will be a $12 fee per television of any size and a $3 fee per computer monitor of any size.

The tire recycling will be available for the following fees:  passenger/light truck – $1 each; semi/forklift – $3 each; and tractor – $15 each.
Paper recycling will be offered at no charge.  Accepted items include cardboard, newspaper, magazines, junk mail and phone books.

If you have any questions, call (269) 467-5617.

This program is offered by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners and the County Solid Waste Committee.

To access a flyer with additional information about the October 3rd collection and recycling activity, click here.