WANTED: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AT HOME

Half-empty cans of paint, mostly used bottles of carpet cleaner, antifreeze, auto batteries cluttering cabinets, sheds and basement shelves at homes can be disposed of properly at next Saturday's household hazardous waste collection.

From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cape Girardeau residents may drop off items at Ford Groves, 1501 N. Kingshighway. The cleanup is sponsored by the city and Safety-Kleen Corp.

Mary Ellen Klein of the city's public works department said, "What we hope is when people use something that comes from under the kitchen sink they use it completely before they dispose of it."

However, Klein said, almost everyone has some bottles, cans or jars of leftover waste. Disposing of those items poses a problem.

"That material is considered hazardous and shouldn't be put in the regular waste stream," she said.

Bob Neff of Ford Groves said people are more aware than ever that items like these need to be disposed of properly.

"They know it's the right thing to do, but it's not always convenient," Neff said. "We're here to make it easy and convenient."

Neff expects a lot of people to take advantage of the service and that is good news for him.

Ray Primonato, branch manager of Safety-Kleen, said his company is sponsoring the cleanup as a community service. Safety-Kleen's business is managing waste disposal for business and industry.

"It's the right thing to do," Primonato said. "I've got the disposal methods to take care of it.

"This stuff shouldn't be going to the landfills," he said. "In 100 years, oil is still oil; paint is still paint."

He expects the cleanup will cost the company about $20,000.

"We have the means to handle it, so we're doing this to give something back to the community," he said.

The cleanup doesn't solve every problem. Primonato couldn't find a disposal site for pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.

Klein said residents will have to do some homework to dispose of items on the banned list.

"I guess people can start making calls," she said. "I don't know the answer."

The collection is held in conjunction with a week of free dumping for city residents at the city's transfer station, 2500 S. Sprigg.

The transfer station will be open Monday through next Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents may drop off bulky items they normally couldn't put out for curbside pickup.

The West End Boulevard compost site near Shawnee Park will also be open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 for free disposal of yard waste and brush.

WASTE COLLECTION

Acceptable items:

antifreeze

gasoline

paint

paint thinner

used oil

roofing tar

turpentine

degreasers

furniture striper

shoe polish

rug cleaner

photo chemicals

rubbing alcohol

batteries

Banned items:

biological wastes

explosives

gas cylinders

infectious wastes

radioactive wastes

syringes

tires

ammunition

fire extinguishers

pesticides

herbicides

fertilizers

fluorescent light bulbs

transformers

ballasts