The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is set to provide a mobile household hazardous waste collection service in Bradley County on Saturday, March 23. This event is part of a statewide initiative to facilitate the safe disposal of hazardous materials commonly found in homes, such as cleaning fluids, pesticides, and swimming pool chemicals.
The collection will take place at the Bradley County Justice Center, located at 2290 Blythe Ave., Cleveland, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tim Mason is the point of contact and can be reached at (423) 728-7300 for more information. Participation in this event is open to all Tennesseans, regardless of their county of residence.
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TDEC Commissioner David Salyers expressed the department’s commitment to environmental stewardship, stating, “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 hosted over 1,500 one-day collection events, allowing more than 373,000 Tennessee households to safely dispose of over 24 million pounds of hazardous materials. The list of acceptable items includes but is not limited to cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury-containing devices like thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent lamps, lithium and button batteries, aerosols, and used needles (in sturdy containers). Certain items such as ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics, and empty containers are not accepted at the collection events.
For non-household sources such as businesses, schools, farms, and churches, there is a disposal cost for Very Small Quantity Generator Waste. Interested parties should call (615) 643-3170 to get a price quote and schedule an appointment.
Residents are also reminded to check with their local city or county solid waste department for collection sites for batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze, and electronic scrap, collectively known as BOPAE materials. These materials require special handling but are typically not accepted at household hazardous waste collection events.
When transporting hazardous waste to the collection site, it is advised to place containers in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper or plastic to prevent spills and cross-contamination. It is crucial to keep these materials away from children and pets during transport.
For additional information on the household hazardous waste mobile collection service, individuals can call 800-287-9013 or visit the TDEC website.
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