County Announces Household Hazardous Waste Collections

Residents of Delaware County can take advantage of a new addition to the annual household hazardous waste collections by dropping off small appliances at the first collection for 2012 to be held on Saturday, March 24, at the Emergency Services Training Center in Darby Township.

County Council Vice Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. said residents can take the small appliances along with unwanted or outdated computers, portable televisions, fax machines and acceptable household hazardous waste to the collection, which will be held between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center located at Calcon Hook road and Tribbett ave., on Darby Township-Folcroft Borough.

Small appliances which will be accepted are stereo/DVD systems, microwaves/toasters, blenders/mixers, power tools, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, electric typewriters and adding machines.

A maximum of three computers or three portable televisions that are 27 inches or less may be turned in, as well. Items to be accepted include all makes and models of mainframes, monitors, laptop computers, printers, scanners, keyboards, mouse devices and power cords.

No console televisions nor items which contain freon will be accepted.  Businesses are not eligible to participate. Only electronic items listed will be accepted.

Additional recycling programs and household hazardous waste collections in Delaware County include:

• April 21 at the Transfer Station in Marple Township. (Only household hazardous waste will be accepted at this collection.)

• Sept. 13 at

• Oct. 13 at Upper Chichester Township Municipal Building

There is no charge to residents to drop off the acceptable materials.

Categories of products to take to the household hazardous waste collections include flammables, such as pesticides, caustics, toxics, rechargeable batteries, lead-acid batteries and propane tanks which weigh less than 20 pounds.

Residents may take oil-based paint, paint thinner, spot removers, varnish, kerosene, gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, weed killers, fungicides, items containing mercury and cell phones.

Residents should not mix materials. They should tighten lids on all containers.  If containers are leaking, they should be packed in a larger container with newsprint to absorb the leaks. Products should be brought in original containers with labels.

Products which will not be accepted at the collections are any unidentifiable waste, latex paint, appliances, asbestos, biological waste, explosives, gas cylinders, alkaline batteries, PCBs, pressurized CFCs, radioactive waste and tires.

No tires nor commercial or industrial waste will be accepted. Latex paint as well as joint compound, roof cements, asphalt sealers, caulking compounds and aerosol cans can be discarded with other residential trash.

A list of materials that will be collected and a full schedule of collections for the five-county area and directions to the locations are posted on the County’s Green Pages section of the County website, www.co.delaware.pa.us/green, under “Waste Reduction and Recycling.”