It’s almost time for Spring Cleaning!  And that usually means finally getting around to cleaning out the garage.  But what can you do about the things you can’t put in your dumpster, like pesticides, oil,  electronics, batteries and solvents?   These items are all considered Household Hazardous Waste and they have a tendency to accumulate in our houses over the years.  And unfortunately, every year improper disposal of such wastes leads to pollution in streams, rivers, groundwater, and drinking water.  And if it’s dumped down the drain or the sink, it interferes with wastewater treatment plants, creating even higher levels of pollution.

Fortunately, thanks to New Hanover County, the City of Wilmington, the Town of Wrightsville Beach, and the NC Dept. of Agriculture, doing the right thing with your waste is easier than ever!  This year’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be on Saturday, March 30th from 9:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.  The event will be held at the Wilmington International Airport at the Customs Building at 1987 Hall Drive.

During this event, held rain or shine, county residents can bring the following for disposal free of charge:

Auto Batteries

Cell Phones

Household Cleaners

Fluorescent Tubes

Fuels

Fertilizers

Mercury (thermostats/ thermometers)

Motor Oil & Antifreeze

Pesticides and Herbicides

Electronics (Tv’s and Computers, etc)

Rechargeable Household Batteries

Smoke Detectors

Solvents

The items that will NOT be accepted include:

Ammunition

Appliances

Asbestos

Commercial/ Business Waste

Furniture

Industrial Materials

Medications

Paint

Propane Gas Cylinders

Sharps (Hypodermic Needles)

Tires

Trash

In addtion to the allowed items, residents can also bring sensitive or confidential documents for free shredding by Iron Mountain.  Some items can be brought to the landfill year round, including auto batteries, motor oil, antifreeze, appliances, sharps, and up to five tires per household.  For more information, please visit this link.