Otsego County held its 22nd annual Hazardous Waste Collection Day this past weekend at a few different locations.  A satellite event was held in Unadilla on Friday where approximately 170 cars dropped off hazardous materials.  According to a press release from Otsego County Planning and Solid Waste, the main event was took place Saturday at the Meadows Office Complex in the Town of Middlefield with approximately 750 cars dropping off hazardous materials.  A combined total of approximately 920 households took advantage of this free county disposal program, breaking previous participant numbers.

After the hazardous materials are collected, they are then packaged by MXI Environmental Services.  At this event, for the 10th year, the county allowed pharmaceuticals and medications to be part of the collection and this year, over 200 pounds were collected free of charge for incineration.

In addition, on Saturday, over 20,000 pounds of televisions, computers, phones, and other electronic equipment was collected for recycling.

As usual, unwanted paint was collected by a team of local volunteers with an estimated 650 gallons collected and put into bulk containers, which will be re-mixed by Golden Artist Colors of Chenango County for eventual re-distribution to local not-for-profit agencies and then interested home owners.

The hazardous waste collection day is an annual public service provided by the Otsego County Board of Representatives.  The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) covers half the funds to cover the costs of this event, with the remainder coming from the County’s Solid Waste User Fee. Its success can be credited to the assistance of the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA) who helps to organize volunteers, students from SUNY Oneonta, the County Highway and Sheriff’s Department, NYS DEC and the efficiency of the crew from MXI Environmental Services.

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