AUBURN - Spring cleaning is a chore that no one looks forward to, but have you ever found yourself wondering what to do with all those hazardous materials that cannot be thrown away in the regular weekly trash pick-up?
Cayuga County and the city of Auburn had the answer Saturday.
The municipalities hosted a household hazardous waste drop off day at Casey Park.
Along with the county and city, Environmental Management and Engineering Services, Cornell Cooperative Extension and volunteers from the Americorps program oversaw the day's cleanup project.
And they had plenty to oversee.
The event brought more than 700 Cayuga County residents in to recycle old chemicals, propane tanks, car batteries, electronic products and more.
"We generally hold the cleanup events once every other year," said Kelly Fallone of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
"We would like to try holding them every year from now on."
Advanced registrations were required for the day's event, with qualified residents asked to sign and return a form certifying that all products were household waste being brought from Cayuga County homes only.
"Businesses have different waste management policies," Fallone said.
The advance registration packet included recommendations on things that were acceptable to bring and things that could be thrown away in the regular trash.
"We tell people to look at the labels of the things that they are unsure of," Fallone said. "If the product uses the words hazardous, caution, flammable or some other variation, it is generally a product that we accept."
Licensed contractors will collect the products, sort them and then take them to their appropriate locations.
"We will strip some things down for recycling, others will be incinerated and the things that can be refurbished for reuse will go through that process," said Ken Gosnell, a contractor for RCR&R Recycling, a Rochester-based company.
"A lot of the computers that can be saved are refurbished and donated to schools throughout New York state."
There was no cost for most of the products that were brought in for recycling, although televisions and computer monitors have a limit of two and require a $5.00 fee.
"The city hosted this event," said Bruce Natale of Environmental Management and Engineering Services. "We are hoping to hold another one later this summer.
"We want to keep these types of products from ending up in our lands and in our water."
Natale said that his firm works from a budget of about $40,000, so they aren't always able to hold these events as much as they would like. He recommends visiting their Web site for information on everyday waste management.
"The Citizen ran an article in Monday's paper that really helped us a lot," Natale said. "We received most of the registration calls on Monday and Tuesday.
"This year we have had a 35-percent increase in registrations, making it the highest number of registrations that we have ever had."
Next Saturday, the tire roundup is scheduled with no advanced registration needed. There will be a charge of 50 cents per tire, with a 40-tire maximum accepted. The event will be held on County House Road.
The municipalities hosted a household hazardous waste drop off day at Casey Park.
Along with the county and city, Environmental Management and Engineering Services, Cornell Cooperative Extension and volunteers from the Americorps program oversaw the day's cleanup project.
And they had plenty to oversee.
The event brought more than 700 Cayuga County residents in to recycle old chemicals, propane tanks, car batteries, electronic products and more.
"We generally hold the cleanup events once every other year," said Kelly Fallone of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
"We would like to try holding them every year from now on."
Advanced registrations were required for the day's event, with qualified residents asked to sign and return a form certifying that all products were household waste being brought from Cayuga County homes only.
"Businesses have different waste management policies," Fallone said.
The advance registration packet included recommendations on things that were acceptable to bring and things that could be thrown away in the regular trash.
"We tell people to look at the labels of the things that they are unsure of," Fallone said. "If the product uses the words hazardous, caution, flammable or some other variation, it is generally a product that we accept."
Licensed contractors will collect the products, sort them and then take them to their appropriate locations.
"We will strip some things down for recycling, others will be incinerated and the things that can be refurbished for reuse will go through that process," said Ken Gosnell, a contractor for RCR&R Recycling, a Rochester-based company.
"A lot of the computers that can be saved are refurbished and donated to schools throughout New York state."
There was no cost for most of the products that were brought in for recycling, although televisions and computer monitors have a limit of two and require a $5.00 fee.
"The city hosted this event," said Bruce Natale of Environmental Management and Engineering Services. "We are hoping to hold another one later this summer.
"We want to keep these types of products from ending up in our lands and in our water."
Natale said that his firm works from a budget of about $40,000, so they aren't always able to hold these events as much as they would like. He recommends visiting their Web site for information on everyday waste management.
"The Citizen ran an article in Monday's paper that really helped us a lot," Natale said. "We received most of the registration calls on Monday and Tuesday.
"This year we have had a 35-percent increase in registrations, making it the highest number of registrations that we have ever had."
Next Saturday, the tire roundup is scheduled with no advanced registration needed. There will be a charge of 50 cents per tire, with a 40-tire maximum accepted. The event will be held on County House Road.
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