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Hazardous waste day encourages proper disposal of garbage in N.B.

Sep 21, 2016 | 6:23 PM

If certain materials are not disposed of properly they can cause serious damage to the environment.

That is why North Battleford will hold this season’s Household Hazardous Waste Day on Saturday Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the public works shop across from Home Hardware.

“It is really important because if hazardous products spill into the ground it could cause environmental issues,” Communications Manager Susanne Abe said. ”On top of that we want to prolong the life of our waste management facility so whatever doesn’t belong there we don’t want there.”

Abe added if hazardous materials get into the soil it could be a costly clean up. She also said in extreme cases materials could contaminate the ground at the waste management plant to the point where it would have to be replaced.

Abe said luckily nothing that bad has happened in North Battleford. She added residents have been good about disposing their hazardous waste properly.

“It’s up to each individual to sort their waste and contribute,” Abe said. “It also keeps costs low because all the garbage has to be sorted so if everybody does it at home it saves time and money for the city.”

Abe said the city puts on the Household Hazardous Waste Day during the spring for people doing their spring cleaning. They hold a second one in fall for people to dispose of all their pesticides, car maintenance products and other summer hobbies which use chemicals.

According to Abe, residents can bring batteries, florescent bulbs and mercury thermostats to city hall anytime of the year for free and they city will make sure they are disposed of properly.

It is free to drop off most products on Household Hazardous Waste Day. For a full list of what is and isn’t accepted and where to properly dispose of waste check the city’s website.

 

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.