The PA Resources Council will launch its 2021 household chemical collection campaign on April 17 by hosting a drive-thru event at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh to provide residents with an opportunity to safely dispose of household cleaners, automotive fluids, paints, pesticides and other products containing potentially hazardous components.

Pre-registration is required.  The collection event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

“New safety measures including an advance registration system reduce the number of interactions occurring between event participants and staff and enable PRC to offer a nearly contactless event,” according to PRC Interim Managing Director Sarah Alessio Shea.  “To streamline the process at our events, we ask participants to wear face coverings and stay in their vehicles while the contractor unloads the materials.  When preparing to attend a collection, participants should place all materials in their car trunks or truck beds.”

A $20 fee will cover the cost of disposing up to 10 gallons/50 pounds of aerosol cans, automotive fluids, chemistry sets, gasoline and kerosene, household cleaners, mercury thermometers, paint products, pesticides/garden chemicals, photo chemicals and pool chemicals.  Loads exceeding 10 gallons/50 pounds will be subject to additional fees at the discretion of on-site staff.

A certified contractor will process the hazardous wastes for proper disposal, and materials may be recycled, incinerated or safely buried in special landfills.

According to the U.S. EPA, an average home can easily accumulate 100 pounds or more of cleaners, automotive fluids, paints, pesticides and other products containing potentially hazardous components. 

While these products are safe to use if proper precautions are taken, problems generally arise via improper use or disposal.

Upcoming 2021 PRC drive-thru collections will take place May 1 at North Park, Allegheny County; May 15 in Cambria County; June 12 in Fayette County; June 26 in Washington County; July 24 in Butler County; Aug. 14 in Boyce Park, Allegheny County; Sept. 11in South Park, Allegheny County and Oct. 9 in Beaver County.

Since launching the household chemical campaign in 2003, PRC and its partners have collected and safely disposed of more than 5 million pounds of chemicals from 50,000+ households during 100+ drive-thru collections held in western Pennsylvania. 

The 2021 PRC household chemical collection campaign is sponsored by Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Parks Department, Beaver County Commissioners, Cambria County Solid Waste Authority, Fayette County Commissioners, Fayette County Conservation District, Washington County, Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, Colcom Foundation, LANXESS, PA Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania American Water, PPG and Pittsburgh Penguins, UPMC, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, PPG Paints Arena, Washington Wild Things, Washington County Family Entertainment, and 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.

For more information the April 17 collection event, visit PRC’s 2021 Collection Event Schedule or call PRC at 412-488-7452.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the PA Resources Council website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates, follow PRC on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.  Click Here for PRC’s Events Calendar.  Click Here to support their work.

PRC is Pennsylvania’s oldest grassroots environmental organization founded in 1939.  PRC has worked to protect resources for future generations through environmental education, recycling, waste diversion programs, anti-litter campaigns and other initiatives.

Related Articles:

-- PA Resources Council 2021 Schedule Of 23 Household Chemical, Hard-To-Recycle, Electronic Waste Collection Events In Western PA

-- PA Resources Council Announces April Schedule Of Online Conservation Workshops

-- PA Resources Council April Schedule Of Glass Recycling Collection Events In Allegheny, Mercer Counties

[Posted: April 5, 2021]

4/12/2021