The Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) is partnering with the Illinois EPA to host a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Saturday from 8 AM to 3 PM. It will take place at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds.
Brandon Melton is the staff coordinator for RICWMA. He describes some of the materials that the county can dispose of.
"Things that you would have around your house like pesticides, herbicides, insecticides...we'll also take petroleum products like used motor oil and gasoline."
Oil paints, acids, aerosols and lightbulbs are also accepted, but explosives, ammunition, and controlled substances are not accepted.
Melton says events like these are important for the health of our community.
"Having this material go to the landfills can cause environmental issues and other safety issues to the folks that work in the landfill but also environmental impacts related to groundwater or even the long-term health of the landfill itself."
A full list of accepted materials, as well as a link to the signup sheet, can be found at ricwma.org.
