Hazardous Waste Collection Day is Oct. 10

TORRINGTON — Tickets are now available for area residents to participate in a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. The event will be held at Torrington Middle School at 200 Middle School Drive (located off Rte. 183), 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 10.

All participants must obtain a ticket from their town or city hall to participate. If you are a resident of Barkhamsted, New Hartford, or Winchester, contact RRDD #1 for a ticket. No one will be admitted to the event without a ticket.

It is important to keep in mind that many of the products routinely used for housework, gardening, home improvement, or car maintenance contain hazardous materials that may endanger our health as well as pollute the environment. Household products are considered hazardous if they are toxic, flammable, reactive, or corrosive. Examples of such products include pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paints, degreasers, household cleaners, paint thinners, and gasoline.

Improper disposal of these hazardous household products, such as pouring them down the drain or putting them in the trash, is dangerous and may contribute to drinking water contamination and air pollution.

The Collection Day provides an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted quantities of such products. Please note that propane tanks, fluorescent bulbs, and electronic waste will not be accepted at this event.

Residents from sixteen area towns are eligible to participate in the Collection Day. These towns include Barkhamsted, Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, and Winchester.

There is no charge to residents to participate; however, residents must pre-register and obtain a ticket from their town hall, or RRDD #1 if you are a resident of Barkhamsted, New Hartford or Winchester, in order to drop off household hazardous waste at the Collection Day. No one will be admitted to the event without a ticket. Registration is taking place now through October 9th. The event is being sponsored by the Recycling Advisory Committee of the Northwest Hills Council of Governments and the participating towns listed above. More details on the Collection Day can be obtained in a flyer at northwesthillscog.org.