BEAUMONT - The Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center will host the Texas Country Cleanup this year from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 12.
The event, sponsored by the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, makes it possible for all Texas residents to dispose of unwanted hazardous waste free of charge as a safe alternative to simply dumping the material and polluting the environment.
The TNRCC will accept such items as pesticides and their containers, used motor oil and filters, lead acid batteries, and household hazardous wastes. Empty plastic pesticide containers must be clean, either triple-rinsed or high-pressure rinsed.
Household items accepted include paints and thinners, gasoline, antifreeze and other automotive products, cleansers, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, photographic chemicals, fluorescent bulbs and mercury thermometers.
There is a limit of two 55-gallon drums per participant on oil filter recycling, and filters will not be accepted from businesses that change oil for a fee. Also, mercury fever thermometers can be exchanged free for new non-mercury thermometers.
Some items, however, will not be accepted, including tires, pesticides or herbicides containing 2,4,5-T – Silvex, chemicals containing pentachlorophenol (unless quantities are less than five gallons), radioactive materials, biomedical wastes, explosives, ammunition, compressed gas cylinders, fertilizers and nutrient materials that are neither hazardous nor contain pesticide admixtures.
The center is located off Hwy 90, 6.2 miles west of Major Drive in Beaumont. For more information please contact the TNRCC at (512) 239-4749 or visit http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/exec/oppr/agwaste/agwaste.html.
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