Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day Oct. 27

The Watauga County Sanitation Department will host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and a Drug Take-Back collection effort on Saturday, Oct. 27.

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide residents with a safe, convenient and environmentally responsible way to dispose of their hazardous waste.
In addition, there will be five locations set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to safely dispose of unused and outdated medications.

Many items normally used around the house, such as paint, cleaners, motor oil and pesticides, are considered hazardous waste and could pose a threat to your family’s health and the environment, according to sanitation officials.

The same is true for unused and outdated medications.

To know whether a household product is hazardous, read the label. If you see words such as “danger,” “warning,” “caution” or “poison,” these materials are hazardous and cannot go into the regular trash, or washed down household drains or storm drains, officials said.

The Household Hazardous Waste Day will be for residential waste only, no commercial waste. Materials can be taken to the Watauga County Landfill, 336 Landfill Road, off U.S. 421.

Items that can be disposed of include paint, antifreeze, ethylene, gasoline, lighter fluid, solid and liquid pesticides, oxidizers and cleaners.

Used oil, lead-acid batteries and tubelike fluorescent bulbs are accepted at the sanitation department during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday year round.

In addition, household batteries and CFLs are accepted at all convenience centers. These items also will be accepted during the household hazardous waste collection event.

In order to ensure the safe collection of household waste materials on Oct. 27:

Please stay in your vehicle during the entire collection. This is for your safety and is required by the landfill’s disposal contractor’s permit.

Bring waste in their original containers whenever possible. Please make sure containers are closed tightly.

Collect your household hazardous waste in disposable boxes or bins and transport in the trunk. Do not put hazardous waste in the backseat with children or pets.

No smoking during the event — most household hazardous waste materials are flammable.

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Pharmaceutical Take-Back

The Drug Take-Back program will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

Food Lion (three locations): U.S. 321 near Walmart; at U.S. 421 and old highway 421; and at Blowing Rock.

Foscoe Fire Department on N.C. 105.

Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department on Bethel Road.

Collected will be prescription and over-the-counter medications and medical supplies. No questions will be asked.

For more information on Household Hazardous Waste Day or the Drug Take-Back, contact Lisa Doty, recycling coordinator, at (lisa.doty@watgov.org) , (828) 265-4852 or (828) 264-5305.