DCist: Reminder: Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday

Mike Licht

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:03 -0500

According to WaPo, Tangherlini plans to open trash transfer stations at Benning Road and Fort Totten for hazmat and e-cycling drop-off on alternating weekends. Alternating weekends is just not realistic for consumer services. People are guaranteed to show up on the wrong weekends, and they will dump their deadly stuff at station gates in disgust.

IMGoph

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:42:55 -0500

how was the congestion "public policy", krisa? do you think the DDOE actually circulated a memo that said something along the lines of "it will be the policy of this department to make this process difficult as hell for the citizens of the district of columbia"? it was just too damn successful. the lesson here is that the district should do something like this once a month, instead of having everything slammed on one day.

Krisa

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:59:32 -0500

I know someone who waited in his car in line for four hours waiting to drop the stuff off. What great public policy, to provide a disincentive to citizens trying to do the right thing.

IMGoph

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:14:49 -0500

i saw the bad traffic on 16th, bailed out at allison and went over to 17th. parked my car right down the street from fenty's house and just walked the junk up to carter barron. worked pretty well (went back out through rock creek to avoid the traffic)

Lionel M Hutz

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:21:16 -0500

Their was a huge backup on 16th St from Allison St to Kennedy St. Fortuantely I got their a little before it got really bad and simply got out of my taxi and walked my items to the parking lot. It would have been at least an hour longer had I had to drive all of the way or if I had too much to carry in my arms. I think that this proves that DC really needs to have this event at least 3 to 4 times more often per year. I feel bad for all of the people who got stuck on 16th St that weren't involved with this.

IMGoph

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:12:27 -0500

well, i'm planning on taking an old brake assembly there (full of brake fluid), so i assume that will qualify as hazardous material. because, if they don't take it, i'm going to drive down to the potomac and toss it in the river...

Politburo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:24:27 -0500

drew there's a caveat in that link: "Air conditioners (empty of water and fluids)" You cannot (properly) empty an air conditioner of fluids without specialized equipment. I hope people aren't busting open their A/C's to dump out the coolant, and then bringing it to DC DPW... oddly, they don't seem to have the same concern about refrigerators.

monkeyrotica

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:15:21 -0500

Chemistry sets Do the even make these anymore? Last time I saw a chemistry set, Jimmy Carter was talking malaise, Elvis had just croaked on the toilet, and Porkins was getting blown up. And even then, most of the chemicals had coagulated or disintegrated. I'd be highly suspicious of a DC kid turning in a chemistry set. They'd either be building a meth lab in their basement or trying to act white, neither of which are acceptable.

drew in adams morgan

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:58:43 -0500

SY: The city actually will take care of it for you. You need to schedule an appointment. Check out the DC DPW website on Bulk Collection for more information. (I am assuming you are in the city).

Nate

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:51:02 -0500

A "wooden television console" isn't an entertainment center that you place your TV on, it's a TV that's permanently built into a bulky wooden piece of furniture. Since televisions are on the acceptable list, the bit about the wooden consoles is just a way of adding, "but not ALL televisions."

Politburo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:49:43 -0500

SY: You'll have to find a recycler who will take it. They will likely charge a fee.

SY

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:43:41 -0500

This is all well and good, but does anyone know where to dispose of old refrigerators and a/c units?

Bethesdaist

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:28:12 -0500

i guess it's just not clear to me why anyone would be thinking a wooden tv cabinet would be 'hazardous material' From an aesthetics standpoint, I would consider a lot of wooden tv cabinets to be hazardous material. Particleboard is not good for you.

Fluxgirl

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:12:12 -0500

The asbestos tiles are fine, as long as they're not friable (emitting breathable powder that could enter your lungs) If you think there's a chance they'll "fri" , wet 'em down with a fine spray of water before bringing 'em.

IMGoph

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:09:47 -0500

politburo: of course, that's obvious. i guess it's just not clear to me why anyone would be thinking a wooden tv cabinet would be 'hazardous material' i guess they're just trying to make it clear to people that this is not meant to be a bulky item pickup...

DC1974

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:09:30 -0500

Why do they always do this on Saturdays? Both me and my partner work 6 days a week. We have for years. I have never been able to make the hazardous waste collection day. I'm pretty responsible about this stuff. So I actually save all this crap, hoping that someday DC makes it a little easier to dispose of it than a seasonal disposal day on a Saturday. (I once took a week day off to take some of these items to the transfer station, because I had heard they had e-recycling there. The people at the transfer station looked at me like I was crazy and just had me dump it all on the main trash pile.)

Politburo

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:00:35 -0500

IMGoph: Yet they are similar... they're both objects that DC DPW doesn't want.

IMGoph

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:51:51 -0500

i love how — Biologically Active Wastes and — Wooden TV Cabinets or Consoles both make it on to the do not drop off list. those are some not-too-similar objects, eh?

monkeyrotica

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:38:40 -0500

Thanks. I've been meaning to throw away my Batman Underoos. What with the warm weather, they've been getting kinda ripe.