Published in the June 23, 2017 edition
STONEHAM — The town of Stoneham and the city of Melrose are partnering to hold a joint Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, June 24.
The event will be held at Stoneham High School, 149 Franklin St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents from both communities are invited to drop off toxic household items that are not allowed to be disposed of in the trash.
Proof of residency is required. Residents will be charged $20 for up to three gallons of material, $25 for four to 10 gallons of material, and $50 for 11 to 25 gallons of material.
Commercial hazardous waste will not be accepted at this collection event.
“Since the improper disposal of hazardous waste is dangerous for Department of Public Works employees and harmful to the environment, we encourage you to take advantage of this important event,” stated Sadie Brown, the Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator for the Melrose DPW.
Accepted items
Paint products: Oil-based paint, stains and varnishes, wood preservatives, paint strippers/thinners, solvent adhesives, lighter fluid.
Note: Latex paint will not be accepted. Dried-up latex paint can be disposed of at the Public Works Operations Facility in Melrose, Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Fuels/auto products: Gasoline, kerosene, antifreeze, engine degreaser, brake fluid, carburetor cleaner, transmission fluid, car wax, polishes. No motor oil will be accepted (please bring to collection event at the Melrose DPW on Oct. 28). No propane tanks will be accepted (please bring to the DPW during any open hours).
Gardening fluids: Poisons, insecticides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers and weed killer.
Household items: Rubber cement, airplane glue, fiberglass resins, photo chemicals, chemistry sets, furniture polish, floor and metal polish, oven cleaner, drain and toilet cleaner, spot remover, rug and upholstery cleaner, hobby supplies, artist supplies, mothballs, flea control products.
Miscellaneous: Driveway sealer, roofing tar and swimming pool chemicals.
How to safely transport items
• To safely transport haz-mat items, leave the materials in their original containers whenever possible. Make sure to tighten caps and lids.
Oil paint, pesticides and household cleaners should be sorted and packed separately. It’s also a good idea to pack containers in sturdy, upright boxes that are padded with newspapers.
• Drive directly to the collection site as soon as the car is packed.
• Never mix chemicals or smoke while handling hazardous material.
Items not accepted
Items not accepted at this collection event include: motor oil, empty containers/trash, commercial or industrial waste, radioactive waste, smoke detectors, infectious and biological wastes, pressurized cylinders, fire extinguishers, helium tanks, household alkaline batteries made after 1994, ammunition, fireworks and explosives, prescription medicines/syringes, asbestos, oil filters and car batteries.
Please do not throw these items in the trash. To properly dispose of these items call a private disposal company.
Also not accepted at this event are: latex paint, mercury products (button batteries, thermostats, thermometers) and tires. These items can be brought to the City Yard and Recycling Center at 72 Tremont St., Melrose.
Residents who cannot attend this event who would like to see a list of other upcoming household hazardous waste disposal events may visit https://www.cityofmelrose.org/household-hazardous-waste/ for more information or call Sadie Brown, the Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator for Melrose, at 781-665-0142, ext. 18.
