Countywide : Collection Sites Sought for Hazardous Waste

After trying them experimentally five times, the county Fire Department wants to set up several stations to collect hazardous household wastes, such as ammonia and chlorine.

Residents and businesses generating small quantities of hazardous materials would be limited to dropping off five gallons or 50 pounds of the material per visit to a collection point under the department’s plan, which goes before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Locations for the stations have not yet been chosen.

The Fire Department proposes a $5 charge for each person dropping off hazardous materials. It also proposes increasing the $6-per-ton fee at county-operated landfills to $6.10 to raise money to help operate collection stations.

County landfills do not now receive hazardous wastes. A report by Sandi Schafer of the Fire Department’s hazardous-materials program office said “extremely hazardous” materials would not be accepted at the collection centers.