27.1 tons of hazardous materials shipped off island

A total of 251 island householders and 31 businesses safely disposed of flammable, toxic, corrosive or reactive materials at this spring’s hazardous waste collection events. Clean Harbors Environmental Services exported 27.1 tons of hazardous waste for either recycling, special incineration in Arkansas or Utah, or reuse to fuel the contractor’s mercury reclamation plant in Arkansas. Businesses paid a total of $8,700 this year to dispose of 1,740 gallons.  Hundreds of fluorescent tubes were also collected from islanders to recycle their mercury content.

County officials said the solution to the problem of health risks and contamination from hazardous wastes is reduction.  Islanders are urged to only buy the amount you need, use the least toxic product possible for the job, share any excess with others, and recycle as much as possible before safe disposal.

San Juan County’s Hazardous Waste and Waste Reduction team thanks Steve Bailey DDS, Camp Orkila/YMCA, Classic Body & Paint, Crescent Beach Service, Davis Autobody, Grindstone Ink, Deer Harbor Boatworks, Islanders Bank, Brenda Ivans DDS, Moran State Park, Orcas Exchange, Orcas Island Fire District #2, Orcas Island Medical Center, Orcas Island School District, Rosario Resort and West Sound Marine & Boat Yard for their participation.

For more information on managing your waste safely, call Helen Venada, San Juan County’s Hazardous Waste and Waste Reduction coordinator at 370-0503 or helenv@sjcpublicworks.org or Brian Rader, the County Pollution Prevention specialist at 370-7581 or at brianr@sanjuanco.com for information on business waste.

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