Time to turn in your pollutants

By PHIL MULKINS World Staff Writer - 11/5/2009


The fall Household Pollutant Collection Event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Expo Square.

Aimed at keeping harmful chemicals and recyclables from entering area landfills, the event is conducted by the Metropolitan Environmental Trust and gives Tulsa County residents a way to get rid of such materials legally and for free.

Typical products collected at the event are expired or unwanted cleaners, pesticides, deep-fryer oil, batteries — large and small, motor oil and antifreeze, prescription drugs and oil-based paints. Items not taken are latex paint, tires and commercial waste.

"Go through the storage areas of your home to assess what is stored there, read the labels to determine what is still usable and what is too old to keep," said Michael Patton, executive director of the MET. "Be mindful of key words on labels like caution, danger and toxic. The potential for harm not only comes from using these chemicals but also from storing them.

"When you rid your home of these chemicals you have a safer home, a safer neighborhood and a safer planet. This program is funded by the local governments and although it is expensive, every gallon out of the stream is a victory."

Also taken, stored in original containers, are paint thinner, acetone and turpentine; acids, bullets (.50-caliber or less), caustics, old gasoline; mercury-based thermometers, mercury wall switches, heating and AC mercury thermostats, compact fluorescent lights and fluorescent shop-light tubes and under-cabinet counter lights, pool chemicals and ionizing smoke detectors.

Patton said that after entering the fairgrounds complex at Gate 7, off 15th Street at Sandusky Avenue, stay in your car, pop the trunk and let MET volunteers remove your pollutants.

More information is available at 584-0584 or at tulsaworld.com/MET.


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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recyclemichael, Tulsa (11/5/2009 8:41:47 AM)
Thank you Phil Mulkins and the Tulsa World. Your coverage and promotion of this event over the years has made such a difference.



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