Haywood County schedules June 6 hazardous-waste collection; plans monthly collections pending permit

The Haywood County Solid Waste Department will hold a household hazardous waste collection for county residents on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the material recovery facility, 278 Recycle Road in Clyde, county officials announced June 1.

Officials cautioned the event is for residents only; commercially generated materials will not be accepted and early drop-offs could incur fees. Solid waste staff member Chris listed materials that will be accepted at the event, including all kinds of paint (water-based latex and oil-based), lacquer-type paints, propane cylinders up to 30 pounds, aerosol cans, batteries, fluorescent bulbs and pesticides.

Chris said the department is pursuing a grant and a permit modification that would allow the county to receive household hazardous waste on site more frequently than one-off events. "We have worked to secure a grant to set up household hazardous waste collection on site more frequently ... when we get things functioning properly, permit modifications, we hope to offer once monthly ... one Saturday per month for a half a day collection," Chris said.

Officials said they will store materials in a purpose-built building and dispose of them properly once the permit modification is in place; no start date for monthly collections was set. County staff asked residents not to bring items before the event and said full details are available on the Haywood County website.

The announcement followed constituent concerns and a discussion of capacity after a large turnout at last year's collection.