Regional hazardous waste collection set for Saturday

People in Southeast Texas will have a chance to legally and safely dispose of those old tires, paint cans and insecticides in the garage on Saturday, April 15, in Beaumont.

The Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission along with local industries, is sponsoring the spring hazardous household waste collection from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ford Park Pavilion parking lot at 5115 South Interstate 10.

People will be able to drive up and leave their hazardous household products for proper disposal. Items that will be accepted include automotive producs like antifreeze, used oil and oil filters, brake fluid, and car batteries. Up to six small and regular tires will be taken free of charge with a $1 each charge after the first six.

Also allowed are old painting supplies, solvents, varnishes, paint strippers, and wood preservatives. Gardening supplies like pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, weed killers, and rat poisons. Cleaning materials to be collected include polishes, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, moth balls, cleaning concentrates, and batteries.

The hazardous waste collection site, though, will not allow appliances, electronics, oversized tires, scrap metal, explosives, ammunition, garbage, medications and pharmaceuticals, smoke detectors, exit signs, medical wastes, or mercury.

The collection event's other sponsors are Motiva, Clean Harbors, Republic Services, plus Transportation and Environmental Resources.