MAYS LANDING – The Atlantic County Utilities Authority will hold a Household Hazardous Waste Day 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Atlantic County Office Building, 6260 Old Harding Highway in Mays Landing.
The drop-off is open to all county residents. This will be the sixth hazardous waste day the ACUA has offered this year through its expanded its program.

Household Hazardous Waste Days provide residents with an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals and cleaners. Items accepted include kerosene, insecticides and pesticides, drain cleaners, fertilizer, solvents, oil-based paint and paint thinners, furniture polish, weed killers, pool chemicals, rat poison, auto-care products, gasoline, photographic chemicals, rust remover, oven cleaners, chemistry sets, car and boat batteries, gasoline, motor oil and gas/oil mix. The ACUA also accepts compact fluorescent light bulbs and standard fluorescent bulbs along with other items such as older thermostats, which contain mercury.

Latex paint is not a household hazardous waste item. If the can has paint, before disposal, allow paint to air dry or add clay-based kitty litter or other commercially available paint drying products to hasten the process. Empty steel paint cans may be recycled curbside.

Other products used in the home, yard, garden or workshop may also be considered household hazardous waste. If in doubt, treat the product as household hazardous waste.

Items not accepted for disposal include explosives, radioactive materials, ammunition, gas cylinders, 2, 4, 5 Silvex, dioxin, PCBs, asbestos, propane tanks and pentachlorophenol.

Residents are reminded not to dispose of liquid chemicals, banned pesticides or motor oil in the trash. Storm sewers should not be used to dispose of trash or household hazardous waste.

To safely package and transport household hazardous waste, the following guidelines should be followed:
Keep all products in original containers. Wrap leaking containers in newspaper and place in plastic bag or garbage container; place items securely in a box for transport. Keep chemicals that could react with one another separated, and to not leave material in hot, unventilated areas for long periods of time. Individual container sizes should not exceed five gallons and will not be returned.

For information call the ACUA at (609) 272-6950 or (800) 613-ACUA or see www.acua.com.