Monthly Collection of Toxics Arranged

Instead of waiting for the annual roundup to haul household hazardous materials away for proper disposal, Camarillo residents may now take their toxics to a waste-disposal company the first weekend of each month.

Under a contract approved Wednesday by the Camarillo City Council, MSE Environmental Inc. will accept paint, antifreeze, aerosol cans, motor oil and other household hazardous wastes on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and the first Friday and Saturday of succeeding months until June, when the contract will be up for renewal.

Residents must call the company at 987-0217 to make an appointment to drop off the wastes.

Residential refuse customers already contribute 25 cents per month toward funding the prior household hazardous waste service, which has been provided by the Ventura County Solid Waste Management Department for the last three years. This amount will not increase with the new service.

The city will pay MSE $25 for each resident who drops off waste to cover the cost of the company’s labor and materials and then up to an additional $42 for toxic waste that requires special disposal methods.

Although MSE’s costs are about $3,000 higher than those paid for last year’s event, the company will provide all appointment scheduling services, which will save the city a minimum of $5,000 in staffing costs, city officials say. Last year’s event cost $50,515 for 797 participants.

MSE will recycle 75% of all the waste received during collection events. Almost all of the remaining 25% will be incinerated at out-of-state locations.

County waste management officials said they are considering developing an auxiliary contract between the county and Camarillo to allow residents in nearby unincorporated areas to use the service.

Oxnard officials are considering contracting with MSE for the second Saturday of each month.