Cape sets Oct. 10 as hazardous-waste collection event

A free household hazardous waste collection event will be held in Cape Girardeau on Oct. 10 for residential trash and recycling customers.

This is the first time the city has held such an event since 2011.

The city resumed it this year thanks to a Missouri Department of Natural Resources Solid Waste Management District grant that will help cover some of the costs. The city council unanimously approved a measure Aug. 17 appropriating funds from the city's Solid Waste Fund to cover the remaining costs of the one-day event.

The ordinance approved by the council appropriated $39,626.00 to cover the estimated cost of the hazardous waste collection event. The Solid Waste Management District grant will fund 75 percent of the cost, with a maximum grant amount of $29,719.50.

After the approval, city manager Scott Meyer said the city was happy to receive the grant that allowed it to again host the collection day and agreed with many council members who said they expect to see a high turnout.

The hazardous waste collection will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the 4-H Building in Arena Park, 410 Kiwanis Drive. It will be held rain or shine, according to the city.

Customers must deliver and drop off their household hazardous waste in leakproof containers.

The collection allows residents to dispose of items that are not accepted in the normal weekly trash service. Some of the accepted items include antifreeze, brake fluid, fluorescent light bulbs, kerosene and paint. While latex paint may be disposed in normal trash collections, the city requires it be solidified first.

Certain items will not be accepted at the collection event. This includes ammunition, explosives, batteries, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs, tires, syringes and radioactive waste. Paint in glass containers also will not be accepted.

More information about the event is available by calling the public works department at (573) 339-6351.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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Accepted items

• acids
• adhesive
• alkali salts
• alkaline
• antifreeze
• artist paint
• auto wax
• brake fluid
• brush cleaner
• carburetor cleaner
• correction fluid
• cutting oil
• degreaser
• fluorescent light bulbs
• fuel additives
• furniture stripper
• furniture wax/polish
• gasoline
• glue with no solvents
• gun cleaning solvents
• isocyanates
• kerosene
• lighter fluid
• linseed oil
• mercury thermometers
• mercury waste (less than two pounds)
• mineral spirits
• nail polish
• oxidizers
• paint
• paint remover
• paint thinner
• pesticides/herbicides
• photo chemicals
• primer
• roofing tar
• rubbing alcohol
• rug/upholstery cleaner
• shoe polish
• solvents
• spot cleaner/remover
• transmission fluid
• turpentine
• used motor oil (five gallon container maximum)
• used oil filters
• varnish
• aerosols containing above materials