MUCH OF AREA'S METH WASTE GOES TO JACKSON

JACKSON -- The largest number of methamphetamine labs in Southeast Missouri ends up behind the Jackson Fire Department.

Thousands of pounds of chemicals and waste have been brought by law enforcement officers to a special holding container behind the fire department. The container was donated by the state Department of Natural Resources over half a year ago and has allowed cheaper disposal of meth waste and valuable training for firefighters, said Randy Carter, a state environmental specialist.

Carter assisted three Jackson firefighters who were processing the contents of two meth labs on Wednesday.

The 576-cubic-foot container is the busiest of four in Southeast Missouri, Carter said. It allows the processing of each lab at an average cost of $50 as opposed to more than $1,000 formerly charged by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Carter watched as firefighters sorted through plastic containers holding glass jars. One full of ether had about three inches of sediment from pseudoephedrine at the bottom. Jackson Fire Chief Brad Golden said after a few more processing steps the meth cooks would have had $10,000 in finished drugs.

Another jar contained a large strip of sodium metal. "If you drop that, they'll be an explosion," Golden said.

The processing of hazardous chemicals gives firefighters hands-on hazardous materials training that could later be beneficial in local emergency situations, Golden said.

Donning rubber boots, white plastic suits and respiration masks, the firefighters took samples of liquids from meth lab waste to determine whether they are corrosive or flammable. Liquid and powder additives are then used to reduce the acidity in certain substances so they can be poured into the sewage system.

With the acidity lowered to federal standards acceptable for household wastes, the meth chemicals pose no threat, Carter said.

"Methamphetamine is made from items that you find in the store every day," he said.

The flammable liquids are stored in a secured tank inside the larger container until they are hauled away once every 80 days, Carter said.

Solid-waste items such as plastic carrying crates are disposed of as solid waste at landfills.

Only tanks with anhydrous ammonia are not processed at the fire station. The tanks are taken to a firefighting training field at the edge of the south city limits where they are purged, Golden said.

"Usually we try to process a lab in 72 hours," he said.

Every part of a lab has to be documented and weighed during processing.

"If we have a 150-pound lab we have to account for all 150 pounds," Golden said.

Sometimes the chemicals turn out to be far less than dangerous. Carter recalled one lab processing in which the liquid turned out to be soda pop.

The firefighters received their largest lab in November. It weighed 265 pounds.

The meth labs come from law enforcement agencies within a 75-mile radius of Jackson.

The labs come in spurts, Golden said. "We could go a few weeks without getting one, then we'll have four," he said. "I've noticed it picking up with the weather getting warmer."