Catawba County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event set for May 2

Residents can clean out their basements, garages, and attics and bring their hazardous waste to Catawba County’s annual spring residential household hazardous waste collection event on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are located at 1 American Legion Avenue in Newton.

This event is open to Catawba County residents only and is free of charge. Residents are advised to be prepared to wait due to anticipated high volumes of materials. No trailers are allowed.

Residential household hazardous waste accepted at the event includes the following:

• Household cleaners such as drain openers, toilet bowl cleaners, oven cleaners, disinfectants, and pine cleaners
• All types of paint products such as latex and oil-based paints, spray paints, solvents, thinners, shellacs, varnishes, wood preservatives, and sealers
• Automotive products such as lead-acid batteries, used motor oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, and auto starter fluid
• Pesticides and insecticides such as poisons and aerosols
• Chemical-based products such as acids, bases, kerosene, household batteries, photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, propane gas cylinders, fluorescent tubes, and mercury thermometers
• Electronics such as computer monitors and intact televisions, laptops, floppy drives, hard drives, ink/toner cartridges, modems, cell phones, answering machines, CD players, tape players, calculators, copiers, duplicators, microwaves, electronic typewriters, pagers, radios, remote controls, scanners, stereos, and VCRs
• Medications and prescription drugs (not including sharps or needles)
• Styrofoam and packaging foam of any kind, as long as it is clean (no bendable foam, sheet foam, compostable peanuts, or home insulation)
• Plastic bags
   

Not accepted items:

• Oxygen tanks or acetylene tanks
• Tires
• Sharps or needles
• Firearms, ammunition, or explosives
• Business waste

The County contracts with certified companies to ensure proper handling and security of the waste collected. 

As a reminder, paint (no spray cans), electronics, and household batteries are accepted at the Blackburn Landfill, located at 4017 Rocky Ford Road in Newton, during regular operating hours year-round and free of charge.

The one-day event is brought to you by Catawba County Utilities & Engineering and the City of Hickory. For more information, please contact Catawba County Utilities & Engineering at 828-465-8217 or visit www.catawbacountync.gov.