Planning Ahead: Hazardous Waste Collection is April 26
I've got an old printer in my house that doesn't work, and won't ever work again. It's been sitting in the exact same spot for two years, collecting dust, as I've had no idea what to do with it. You can't just throw those things in the garbage, they're full of toxic something or other! Well a reminder posted by the D.C. Department of Public Works has prompted me to block off a chunk of time in my Google calendar for April 26, the date that's been set for the department's annual spring Household Hazardous Waste and E-Cycling collection event. Hello, spring cleaning. Goodbye, crappy old printer.
On Saturday, April 26, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre parking lot at 16th and Kennedy Streets NW, District residents may drop-off hazardous waste for proper disposal and recycling. I wish they held these events more often. After the jump, you'll find a complete list of acceptable items to bring. But before we get to that, here's a list of items you CAN'T get rid of in the District.
Unacceptable:
*Ammunition
*Bulk trash
*Wooden TV consoles
*Propane tanks
*Microwave ovens
*Air conditioners and other appliances
*Radioactive or medical wastes
Bulk trash and ammo we get, but what exactly are you supposed to do with an old microwave? Just toss it? Acceptable items list is below.
D.C. residents are encouraged to bring the following items to the Household Hazardous Waste and E-Cycling collection event on April 26:
*Leftover cleaning and gardening chemicals
*Small quantities of gasoline
*Pesticides and poisons
*Mercury thermometers
*Paint
*Solvents
*Spent batteries
*Antifreeze
*Chemistry sets
*Automotive fluids
*Asbestos floor tiles (personally, not sure I'd want to transport those myself)
*Computers (they'll also wipe your hard drive clean for you)
*Computer monitors and other accessories
*Televisions
*Office equipment
*Cell phones
*Stereo equipment
We'll remind you again closer to the actual date, but in the meantime, start thinking about what you've got lying around that it's high time you properly chucked out. Here's the FAQ on household hazardous materials from DPW.