MEDIA RELEASE

Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up Event

June 8, 2017

GRANDE PRAIRIE – Aquatera is hoping to create public awareness about the link between improper disposal of common household wastes and landfill fires at their annual Round-Up event this week.

The event, which is in partnership with Alberta Recycling, takes place this Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Eco Centre, located at 10431 – 96 Avenue.

”The Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up is an opportunity for residents to learn about how the Eco Centre is a safe place to dispose of toxic products year-round as an alternative to dumping them in the landfill,” says Sarah Kaut, Acting Recycling Manager at Aquatera.

When not disposed of safely, household hazardous waste materials can endanger public health and harm the environment.

”This year, we specifically want to bring awareness to our customers about the dangers of tossing out old batteries,” Kaut adds. ”Fires at Aquatera’s landfill have been traced to batteries, which short-circuited or were run over by compactors, causing them to crack open, react with the air and ignite.”

Batteries and many electronics also contain heavy metals such as copper, lead, cadmium, mercury and lithium, which are able to permeate into the ground soil and then into our water supplies.

The Eco Centre accepts old electronics, automotive chemicals, including used motor oil, along with any old cleaning supplies they might find under their kitchen sinks.

Beauty products, including nail polish remover, aerosol cans (i.e. hairspray, spray sunscreen and shaving cream) can be also be safely dispose of at the Eco Centre. If it’s corrosive, explosive, flammable or toxic it will be accepted.

Residents are also welcome to bring used paint to be dropped off, or exchanged. A shredding truck will be on-site during the day as well.

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Aquatera Utilities Inc. is the Grande Prairie region’s provider of water, wastewater and solid waste services. Its core purposes is helping grow healthy communities and aims to have the best people providing the best service for the best value. For more information: www.aquatera.ca

Contact
Chelsea Lewis
Communications and Change Manager
Aquatera Utilities Inc.
P: 587.297.0692