Saturday At Public Works Garage—

Newtown To Host Next HRRA Household

Hazardous Waste Collection Event

All those cans and bottles of lawn care products from last year that are collecting dust in your basement can now be taken care of. So can those old moth balls that are no longer effective, but don’t belong in the garbage can either.

The Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority (HRRA) will hosts its next regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, May 22, from 9 am until 2 pm, at the Public Works Garage, 4 Turkey Hill Road.

Many things that are not usually accepted at the town’s transfer station can be dropped off on Saturday, including oil-based paints; stains and varnishes; paint thinners and strippers; wood preservatives; resins, rosins, and adhesives; furniture, floor, and metal polishes; oven, toilet bowl, and drain cleaners; pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides including lawn care products; flea powder; and moth balls.

Also accepted on Saturday will be dry cleaning solvents, lighter fluids, engine degreasers, waste fuels (gasoline, kerosene), full or partially full aerosol cans, photo chemicals, chemistry sets and hobby supplies, and rechargeable (Ni-Cd) batteries.

Things that should be left at home include latex paints (allow them to dry and then put them into your regular garbage), empty aerosol cans and household batteries (which can also be put into the trash), smoke detectors, motor oil and antifreeze (recycle at the transfer station); ammunition, fireworks or explosives (contact the police department), and radioactive materials.

Additional information including a full listing of what is acceptable types of waste and what to leave home is available via the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority website, HRRA.org, or by calling 203-775-6256, extension 304.

Saturday’s collection is open to residents of Newtown, Bethel, Danbury, New Fairfield, Redding, and Ridgefield.

(An event for residents of Bridgewater and Roxbury will be held in Bridgewater on August 28. The next collection open to Newtown residents will be on September 25 in Danbury.)

HRRA is a regional, governmental, waste management, and recycling authority serving the western Connecticut municipalities of Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, and Sherman — a population of more than 225,000 people.