Westmoreland Cleanways adds 2nd household hazardous waste collection date

Due to overwhelming response, Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling Center announced this week it would hold two household hazardous waste collections this fall.

In addition to the Oct. 24 collection, a second collection was added for Nov. 21.

Ellen Keefe, executive director of the nonprofit environmental organization, said it took just two days to “sell out” all slots for the 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 24 collection, so the center arranged a second collectionfor next month.

The Nov. 21 collection also will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the new recycling facility that opened in May at 355 Pleasant Unity-­Mutual Road, just south of Route 130 in Pleasant Unity.

Preregistration is required. Keefe noted that, due to the amount of items collected in one day, the contractor usually can only handle 150-170 cars.

A fee of 85 cents per pound will be charged to all participants and there is an additional fee for mercury thermometers. Cleanways and recycling members will receive a 10 cent per pound discount on the cost of disposal.

ECS & R of Crawford County is handling registration and conducting the event, Keefe said.

Residents may register by calling866-815-0016, or visit ecsr.net. The amount due will be determined on site, depending on the weight of material to be disposed.

She said payment can be made by cash, check made out to ECS&R, debit or credit card. She said participants should mention their Cleanways membership status prior to checkout to receive the member discount.

The organization had not held a hazardous waste drop off since 2019 due to its move to the new site in Unity.

Keefe suggests residents begin sorting through items in their basements, garages, garden sheds and laundry rooms and set aside those household substances commonly marked “toxic,” “hazardous” or “dispose according to local waste regulations” for disposal. All paints including latex, oil-based and alkyd paints, lacquers, mineral spirits, thinners and other solvents will be accepted.

Chemicals such as aerosol cans, automotive fluids, degreasers, drain cleaners, fertilizers, old gasoline and fuel mixes, insecticides, pesticides, pool chemicals, metal polishes, old chemistry sets and wood preservatives will also be accepted.

Materials that will not be accepted include electronics, freon appliances, explosives/ammunition, bulk mercury, radioactive waste, medicines or medical waste, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers or any substance regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

For information about other recycling and disposal opportunities in the county, residents should call the center at 724-879-4020, or visit westmorelandcleanways.org.