Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Most families have them, a half-empty can of bug spray, some old oil-based paint, a jug of used motor oil, or a can of unused cleaning solvent. If it’s a household chemical product, and it’s no longer wanted, it’s considered a household hazardous waste. Officials say that over time, the average home can accumulate up to 100 pounds of such waste.

Soon, Adair County residents will have a free opportunity to rid their homes of these unwanted and potentially dangerous chemical products. The Cherokee Nation, through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has designed a regional demonstration program to promote and foster the use of safe and environmentally-sound disposal practices for household chemical pollutants.

The program will begin on Saturday, June 28 with a one-day, special collection event at the parking lot of the Cherokee Nation Industries near the junction of Highways 51 and 59 in the City of Stilwell. From 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the collection day, all homeowners and private residents of Adair County can bring in any household chemical pollutant generated by ordinary household activities. Wastes from commercial or business sources cannot be accepted.

A wide variety of potential pollutants from the typical household will be accepted at the collection. Examples include automotive products like motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, car wax, lead-acid batteries, brake and transmission fluids. Also collected will be bottles of furniture polish, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, and spot remover. Other acceptable wastes include home and garden products such as insecticides, weed killers, rat poison, pet spray, wood preservatives, petroleum solvents, and pool chemicals.

Trained personnel will unload materials from the trunk of each car, sort it, and prepare it for transport in accordance with state and EPA regulations. Much of the collected material will be reused or recycled. The remainder will be disposed of at an approved hazardous waste facility.

A few special types of waste will have to be excluded from the event for safety reasons. Pressurized gas cylinders, ammunition and other explosives, containers of unknown substances, and any wastes from business, commercial, or agricultural activities cannot be accepted.

Ken Purdy, Program Director of the Solid Waste Institute of Northeast Oklahoma and Event Coordinator for the upcoming collection project said that increasingly, communities are creating opportunities for residents to participate in these more environmentally responsible alternatives for the disposal of household pollutants. "Collection programs like this started in the larger cities several years ago and have been adopted more and more by smaller communities as we’ve come to better understand the benefits of the service and how to manage the costs" said Purdy.

Purdy stated that old paint will be one of the main products discarded by participants at the upcoming event. He indicated, however, that not all unwanted paint should be brought to the event. "This is a great way to dispose of unwanted oil-based paint but we’re encouraging homeowners to dispose of latex paint at home when possible" Purdy said. Latex paint is not considered a hazardous material and partial containers of paint should be solidified and discarded in the regular trash by homeowners. "Just open the can of latex paint and let it dry or pour small amounts over layers of shredded newspaper until it’s used up. Then bag it and set it out with your regular trash collection. This really helps us manage the costs by using the funds for those items that are hazardous and possibly dangerous when left in the home" said Purdy.

The collection event will also feature a special designated area called the "swap shop" or materials reuse area. In the swap shop, unused paint and other items received at the site in a usable condition will be set aside for reuse, and they’ll be available at no charge to area residents.

Another valuable feature of the waste collection is that up to three unwanted computers or TV sets will also be accepted from each participating vehicle. These electronic wastes are considered "pollutants" because each computer monitor and TV tube contains between three and eight pounds of lead along with other metals located in their components. These metals, if disposed in landfills, pose a risk to groundwater. All electronic wastes received at the collection event will be dismantled and the materials recyled.

The City of Stilwell is supporting the upcoming waste collection and helping ensure that area residents have a convenient disposal option for the household chemical wastes. According to Mayor Reggie Cox, the proper disposal of local household pollutants will mean cleaner land and water and safer homes for area residents. It’s an opinion shared by Barbara Wininger, local facilitator of the upcoming collection and long-time supporter of area clean up events. "We work hard with the county every year helping to organize spring clean up events and this special collection is another way we can help keep our families safe and the environment clean" said Wininger. "We appreciate the opportunity provided by the Cherokee Nation."

Purdy stated that Adair County is the first of three counties targeted by the project for delivery of the service. He also noted that if project resources are sufficient after tallying costs of the first collection event, an additional collection will be held later this summer in the Westville area. "I’m hopeful, but we can’t make that determination until after the first event" said Purdy.

For more information about the upcoming Household Pollutant Collection Event, contact the Event Coordinator, Solid Waste Institute of Northeast Oklahoma, toll-free 888-452-0116 or call the local facilitator, Barbara Wininger, phone: 696-2249.

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org