The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is set to bring its mobile household hazardous waste collection service to Roane County on Saturday, March 9, offering residents a safe and convenient way to dispose of potentially dangerous household items. This event, part of a long-standing initiative by TDEC to promote environmental sustainability and public health, welcomes participants from any location, not just Roane County residents.
The collection will take place at the Roane County Recycling Facility, located at 215 White Pine Rd., Harriman, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., where individuals can drop off a variety of household hazardous waste including cleaning fluids, pesticides, swimming pool chemicals, and more. Tony Brashears is the contact for the event, reachable at (865) 590-7779 for any inquiries.
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Highlighting the importance of the event, TDEC Commissioner David Salyers remarked, “We want it to be convenient for Tennesseans to recycle household hazardous waste, and this collection service is a great way to show that commitment. We are pleased we can offer this service, and we encourage Tennesseans to participate.” Since its inception in 1993, the program has seen over 373,000 Tennessee households participate, disposing of more than 24 million pounds of hazardous material through more than 1,500 collection events.
The initiative underscores the environmental risks posed by improper disposal of household hazardous waste, which includes flammable, toxic, reactive, and/or corrosive materials. Residents are urged to take advantage of this free service to dispose of various hazardous items properly. However, the event will not accept ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics, and empty containers, which should be dealt with through regular trash or other specific disposal programs.
For businesses, schools, farms, churches, and other non-household entities generating hazardous waste, the event offers disposal for a fee and by appointment only, emphasizing the broader community effort to manage hazardous waste responsibly.
TDEC also encourages residents to contact their local city or county solid waste department for information on disposing of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, and electronic scrap, which are not included in the household hazardous waste collection but can often be recycled or disposed of safely through local programs.
As the event approaches, residents planning to participate are advised to transport their hazardous materials in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper or plastic to prevent spills and cross-contamination, keeping the environment and safety top of mind. For more information on the household hazardous waste mobile collection service, individuals can call 800-287-9013 or visit the official TDEC website.
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