Intermunicipal Relations Committee helps Blair County residents dispose of hazardous wastes

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Intermunicipal Relations Committee (IRC) asked the community to bring hazardous wastes and chemicals to be properly disposed Saturday.

“These are things you’re not going to see on the side of the road,” said. Brock Bryan, Executive Director of the IRC. “People find they can’t get a trash hauler to take a fluorescent bulb or a paint can, and they up destroying it improperly alongside the road.”

The list of chemicals include the following:

• Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and tubes
• Automotive fluids (motor oil, antifreeze, oil filters, etc.)
• Pesticides and fertilizers
• Flammable liquids and corrosive chemicals
• Aerosol cans
• Latex, oil-based and spray paints ($0.50/lb charge)

Patrons drove up to the Jaffa Shrine and paid a $20 charge to have the materials removed. Once completed, staff members from XMI in Philadelphia removed the items from the cars. Each hazardous chemical had its own section to prevent any chemical reactions from occurring. A chemist was on standby to test certain fluids.

Last year, the group collected over 24,000 pounds of waste materials. The biggest contributor were cans of paint, which accounted for over 50% of the totals.

“Paint is the hardest thing to dispose of properly,” Bryan said. “The other thing is fluorescent lightbulbs and then a lot of household chemicals people don’t know what it is for anymore.”

The IRC tried to inform the public about proper disposal techniques for these items. However, the Education and Enforcement Coordinator Julie Dilling did not feel she fully got the message through.

“They’re misinformed, and so that trickles down from me to the trash haulers, through our newsletters, education programs, and just word of mouth of how to recycle all these items correctly,” Dilling said.

Other than hazardous chemicals, residents can dispose of bottles, cans and cardboard materials at the Buckhorn Recycling Center daily.

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For questions about proper recycling techniques, visit the IRC website for more information or call 814-942-7472.

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