Hazardous waste to be collected at event

The Public Works Department will be holding a household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, Feb. 13 for anyone needing to dispose of hazardous materials.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak and inclement weather, the last event was canceled.

The containers of waste accepted are those that are too toxic for the regular trash. Among the accepted materials are batteries, motor oil, paints, light bulbs, sharps (needles), pool chemicals, automotive products, cleaning products and more.

The event will be held at the Shafter/Wasco Landfill at 17621 Scofield Road, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to Lynnda Martin, of American Refuse, residents were getting frustrated with the inability of disposing of their hazardous waste, forcing them to keep the materials longer than they would normally.

If you would like to participate in the collection, label all of your containers. Make sure that none of your containers are leaking. Do not mix different types of waste. Keep them separated. You can transport no more than 15 gallons of waste at a time, or up to 125 pounds per trip.

This event is for personal waste only. No commercial waste is allowed at this event.

Disposing of residential hazardous waste in your trash or dumping it down storm drains or into the sewer and septic systems can be dangerous to your health, the health of others and the environment. Thrown into your trash can, residential hazardous waste can pose a threat to trash collectors and workers. Dumped on the ground or street, waste can be absorbed into the ground water supply, enter storm drains and eventually pollute the Kern River.