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Solid Waste Authority News Release:
SWA Household Hazardous Waste : Dispose Of Your Household Hazardous Waste at SWA for Free
Solid Waste Authority Household Hazardous Waste Tip #1: Home Chemicals - Save your shelf this spring by cleaning out home hazards from sheds, garages and under sinks. Cleaners, paints, pesticides and automotive products have no place in the regular trash or down storm drains where they can expose people, pets and our environment to harm. Instead, Palm Beach County residents can dispose of their unwanted chemicals at any of the SWA's seven convenient drop-off locations for FREE.
Solid Waste Authority Household Hazardous Waste Tip #2: Fluorescent light bulbs use less electricity than a standard incandescent bulb, last longer, and give off less heat, making them a cost-effective lighting alternative to regular incandescent bulbs. However, fluorescent lamps do contain mercury, and should not be thrown away in the trash.
Palm Beach County residents are asked to bring their used fluorescent bulbs, and other mercury containing devices such as thermostats, thermometers, electrical switches and liquid mercury, to their nearest SWA Home Chemical and Recycling Center. Palm Beach County residents can dispose of these unwanted chemicals for FREE at any of the SWA's seven convenient drop-off locations.
Solid Waste Authority Household Hazardous Waste Tip #3: Rechargeable Batteries Can Cause Fires if Put in Recycling Bins or Trash Throwing rechargeable batteries into a recycling bin or the garbage can put property and people’s lives at risk. In fact, fires traced to lithium-ion batteries have been reported at recycling facilities nationwide, and fires have started in the garbage trucks that go to your home.
Rechargeable batteries power our cell phones, laptops, cordless power tools and even hover boards. These batteries have components that are flammable. If the battery is shorted or damaged, it heats up and produces oxygen, which facilitates combustion.
Fortunately, Palm Beach County residents can dispose of rechargeable (non-alkaline) batteries for free at any of the SWA's seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
Regular alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt) can be placed in your garbage. But any other type of battery (rechargeable, nickel-cadmium, automotive, lithium-ion, cell phone, lead-acid) should be dropped at one of the SWA’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
In addition to these locations, many major retailers will recycle batteries for free, and have drop-off containers placed near the front of their stores. Commercial quantities of batteries may require special disposal. Call 561-687-1100 for details on recycling batteries from your business.
Learn more about how to properly dispose of batteries with the following resources:
- Watch the SWA’s lithium-ion battery commercial
- Check out the SWA’s video about the dangers of putting combustible items in your trash
- Review the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Homeowner’s Guide To Battery Recycling And Disposal
Remember, pollution prevention starts at home. A full list of household hazardous wastes can be found at SWA.org/HCRC or call 561-697-2700 or 866-SWA-INFO (toll-free) to learn more about the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
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Paul Brazil
Director of Public WorksPhone: 561-838-5440
951 Okeechobee Road, Suite A
West Palm Beach, FL 33401