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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Contact:
David Baker, Education and Outreach Specialist (360) 754-3355 ext. 7669
Record Number
of Residents Dispose of Toxic Wastes at Wastemobile Event
Olympia-
A record number of
Thurston
County
residents safely disposed of toxic household products at the Thurston County
WasteMobile event in
Olympia
last weekend. (September 23rd through the 25th )
The Wastemobile served more than 700 people and collected a staggering
14.5 tons of hazardous wastes in a parking lot at Westfield Shoppingtown
Capital Mall.
The WasteMobile is a traveling
collection station that accepts pesticides, paints, batteries, car fluids and
other hazardous products found in many households. The program offers a
convenient way for residents to dispose of and recycle these dangerous
products free of charge.
Pesticides, paints, batteries, and
motor oil comprised the bulk of products brought to the
Olympia
event. “We’re really pleased to provide this service,” said David Baker,
the event organizer and an environmental educator with the county. “It’s
great that people understand these products shouldn’t go in the garbage,
yard, or down the drain.”
Liz Hoenig, groundwater protection
program coordinator for the City of
Olympia
, said residents who safely dispose of dangerous household products play an
important role in protecting local water supplies. “Twenty percent of our
drinking water supply comes from Allison Springs wells, which are recharged by
rainfall from much of Olympia’s west side, ” she said. “Proper disposal
of these products ensures they won’t be contaminating our drinking water.”
The WasteMobile has served more
than 3,300 residents and collected more than 83 tons of hazardous materials
since the program began in the year 2000. Events have been held in Tumwater,
Yelm, Grand Mound, Tenino, Rainier and
Olympia
. The last
Olympia
event was held in 2003. The next WasteMobile event will be held in the spring
of 2006.
Residents who missed the event at
the mall may still bring household hazardous products to HazoHouse at the
Thurston County Waste and
Recovery
Center
off Interstate 5 at exit 111. HazoHouse is a free service and is open
year-round on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, call 786-5494 ext. 4 or the TDD line 754-2933, or
visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm.
The event this past weekend was
sponsored by the
county
Solid
Waste Program and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, in
partnership with the City of
Olympia Groundwater Protection Program
and the LOTT Wastewater Alliance.
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