With fall just around the corner, it’s time to clean out barns, basements, sheds, garages, medicine cabinets, storage areas under kitchen sinks, etc. of hazardous household materials. Two events will be held for residents to properly discard potentially toxic/dangerous and hazardous household waste materials.

The St. Andrew’s Landfill will host Hazardous Waste Collection days on Saturday, September 7, 2013 and Saturday, November 2, 2013. Both events will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hazardous waste items which will be accepted for collection include Acids, Ammonia, Bleach, Cleaners, Fuels, Gas/Oil Mixtures, Gasoline, Household and Lawn Pesticides, Mercury Thermometers, Paint, Paint Thinners, Photography Chemicals, Pool Chemicals, Solvents, and Wood Preservatives.

Items not accepted include Ammunition, Asbestos, Explosive Materials, Medical Waste, Pharmaceuticals, Radioactive Materials, and Picric Acid.

At last year’s event, nearly 45 tons of materials were collected. Help us collect even more this year and dispose of it through safe, environmentally responsible practices.

Also, the Department of Public Works and Transportation will hold a Citizen and Agricultural Scrap Tire Drop-off Day on September 14, 2013. Anyone dropping off scrap tires will be able to do so free of charge.

Scrap tires can be dropped off at the St. Andrews Landfill on St. Andrews Church Road in California, MD between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Ten (10) tires per vehicle will be accepted with a limit of one trip per vehicle. Tires to be accepted include passenger, light truck, heavy truck and agricultural. In addition, both on-rim and off-rim tires will be accepted. Commercial vehicles and businesses will not be allowed to participate in the event.

Citizens are reminded they may continue to bring up to five (5) old scrap tires per visit, free of charge, to the St. Andrews Landfill year round. Loads in excess of this quantity will be assessed a fee of $158.00 per ton.

For more information about the Hazardous Waste Collection days, please contact the St. Mary’s Department of Public Works and Transportation at 301-863-8400. You can also log on to their website at www.co.saint-marys.md.us/dpw/recyclingandsolidwaste.asp. For information about the September 14 Scrap Tire Drop-off event, please contact Nicholas Zurkan, St. Mary’s County Solid Waste Manager, at 301-863-8400 ext. 3550. You may also visit the department’s website at www.stmarysmd.com.