Fayette County residents can dispose of hazardous household materials at the spring Household Hazardous Waste collection event this Saturday.
Teams will collect items such as cleaners, paints, and other dangerous chemicals to help keep them out of the groundwater system.
Lauren Monahan is an environmental specialist with the city of Lexington. She said there is a limit to what materials they will accept.
“Some of the items that we definitely do not want include explosives, that includes fireworks, or ammunition, medications we're not able to accept. Those are the main things we're not able to accept."
Monahan said household hazardous waste they can accept includes paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, pesticides, and more. Improper disposal of these chemicals can pollute air, water, or soil and threaten human health. Electronic waste items will also be collected at the event.
She said they have contractors who safely dispose of the hazardous waste.
“They actually set up a couple of different stations where they take chemicals, gasoline, paint and they safely dispose of that. They do recycle it or reuse it where that's possible with fuel blending.”
Monahan said they also have a deal with Habitat for Humanity, which collects usable paint and sells it in their re-stores.
The collection event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1631 Old Frankfort Pike in Lexington.
More information about the hazardous waste collection event can be found here.
Lexington Environmental Quality and Public Works is a financial supporter of WEKU.
