The York County Solid Waste Authority provides environmentally responsible, efficient and economic management of all municipal solid waste generated in York County through an integrated approach that emphasizes waste reduction, reuse, recycling and waste-

York County residents: Safely manage household hazardous waste by bringing it to this free household hazardous waste collection program. Click here for directions to the management Center.

Household hazardous waste includes any products from the home which are corrosive (drain cleaners or bleach), flammable (gasoline), reactive (chemistry kits) or toxic (pesticides).

The program benefits York County by identifying hazardous wastes found in the home and providing an opportunity to manage these materials in a safe and efficient manner.

Here's How You Can Participate:

· All York County homeowners or residential tenants are eligible to participate in this program. Due to state regulatory requirements, commercial entities are not eligible to participate. In addition, homeowners and residential tenants who reside in a municipality that has contractually agreed to deliver waste only to the York County Resource Recovery Center may also participate. Those municipalities include Swatara Township, Highspire Borough, and McSherrystown Borough.

· There is no fee to participate in the program, the Authority provides this service to York County residents as part of our integrated waste management system and a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

· After collection, a licensed hazardous waste commercial hauler, hired by the Authority, will transport the material to permitted hazardous waste disposal sites at these sites the materials will be recycled, neutralized, incinerated or landfilled.

Examples of Accepted Items: Thermometers containing mercury, liquid mercury, auto products (transmission and brake fluids, car batteries, antifreeze), rechargeable batteries--Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead (Pb), driveway sealant, fluorescent light bulbs, gasoline and kerosene, herbicides, pesticides and insecticides, household cleaners (oven, drain, etc.), photographic and pool chemicals.

Do Not Bring: Latex or oil-based paint. Paint can be placed in your regular garbage for pick-up. Seal the containers tightly to prevent spillage. The Resource Recovery Center uses an air pollution control system to ensure safe processing. Also, no Aerosol Cans, Alkaline Batteries (AA's, AAA's, C's, D's, etc.), Explosives, Ammunition, Propane Tanks, Radioactive Waste or Used Motor Oil.

Alkaline batteries may be disposed of in your regular garbage. For a listing of collection sites accepting used motor oil from the public for recycling, click here.

For a listing of retail outlets that accept old propane tanks, click here.

For questions about how to safely dispose of other items, click here or call the Authority at 717-845-1066.

Why is Household Hazardous Waste a Potential Problem?

There are potential short and long term consequences from the improper management of household hazardous wastes.

· Improper storage or use of hazardous products in the home can increase the risk of accidental poisoning or injury.

· Disposal of household hazardous wastes in ordinary refuse could injure sanitation workers. Some products are chemically incompatible, and may lead to fires in dumpsters or garbage trucks.

· Pouring waste down the drain puts it directly into septic tanks or sewage treatment plants that may not be able to filter out or properly treat hazardous materials. This can lead to the contamination of groundwater or surface waters where treatment plants discharge.

What Can You Do About Household Hazardous Waste?

· Educate Yourself. Learn more about the products that you use in your home, garden and workshop, and about how waste is managed in your community.

· As a York County resident, you can bring your household hazardous waste to the York County Solid Waste Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs. They are opportunities for you to clean your home and storage areas of hazardous wastes.

· Try to find non-hazardous or less hazardous substitutes. In some cases, substitutes may require a little more work, but are well worth the effort to protect the environment. A list of hazardous product alternatives is available from the Authority.

· Store hazardous products in their original containers.

Click here to learn how to reduce your hazardous waste.