Carter County has formed a partnership with the state to provide a way for residents to dispose safely of some of the dangerous chemicals and other hazardous items they may have in their homes.
On Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Tennessee residents may bring a variety of hazardous household waste to the Carter County Recycling Center for free, safe disposal.
For this event, residents may bring in items not normally accepted by landfills, Carter County Landfill Manager Benny Lyons said.
The collection is a partnership between the Carter County Landfill and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Among the hazardous items accepted next weekend are fluorescent bulbs up to 8 feet long, household chemicals, polishes, medications, gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, fertilizer, paint thinners, lacquers and rust/wood preservatives.
Items that will not be accepted include latex paints, medical waste, explosives and tires.
Lyons noted that oil-based paints, used automotive oils and fluids, electronics and used cooking oil can be brought to the Carter County Recycling Center or the landfill year-round free of charge. Batteries also are accepted any time at the landfill, he added.
“The state has provided this, so please take advantage of it and get some of these dangerous things out of your home,” Lyons said.
Once the items are brought to the collection event, Lyons said a company contracted by the state will sort the items and then determine what will be done with them.
“Some of it will probably go to be incinerated and some will go to be recycled,” he said.
The Carter County Landfill has been working with TDEC to hold these special collect events for the last few years, Lyons said, adding that sometimes some odd things are brought in.
“Last year someone brought in 50 gallons of old gas,” he said. “We actually got a 16-ounce jar completely full of mercury once.”
On the day of the event, visitors will be able to tour the Recycling Center to see the operations there. Among those touring that day will be some members of the Carter County Commission, Lyons said.
“We will be having a field trip tour that day of the Recycling Center and the operations at the landfill for the commissioners so they can see what we do,” he said.
Also this week, Lyons and the crews from the Landfill and Recycling Center will celebrate the grand opening of the new Little Milligan Convenience Center. A ribbon cutting for the new center will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. The Little Milligan Convenience Center is located on Highway 321 near the intersection of that road with Highway 67.