Town Of Smithtown Disposes Of 17 Tons Of Hazardous Waste

KINGS PARK, NY — The Town of Smithtown Department of Environment and Waterways and Municipal Services Facility collected more than 17 tons of waste at its Hazardous Household Waste event on Oct. 7, the town announced.

People from 447 Smithtown households safely disposed of thousands of pounds of toxic items, which are prohibited in regular curbside waste pickups.

"Through the participation of hundreds of Smithtown residents, the Town of Smithtown was able to safely dispose of over 17 tons of waste, without the risk of those materials contacting the environment," said David Barnes, the town's environmental protection director, in a news release. "It is only through the participation of so many residents that we can continue to keep Smithtown beautiful."

Smithtown Municipal Services Facility employees worked with Barnes, public safety fire marshals, DEW staff, Covanta staff, and Solid Waste Coordinator Mike Engelmann to safely and efficiently secure materials.

Waste collected included oil-based or flammable paints, gasoline, paint thinners, waste gases, petroleum distillates, flammable solids, oxidizers liquids and solids, sodium/potassium nitrates, acids, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, toxic liquids and solids, lacquers, lithium batteries, battery acids and various other toxic compounds.

Materials were collected and set for disposal by Radiac Research Corp.

Covanta provided $5 Home Depot gift cards to more than 130 residents for recycling potentially dangerous lithium-ion and other batteries, propane tanks and mercury containing devices. More than 1,000 pounds of these materials were recycled.

The next Hazardous Waste collection event is scheduled for April 20.

There will be three collection events in 2024. Dates will be announced in the 2024 Refuse & Recycling Collection Calendar. Hazardous Household Waste collection events are for Smithtown Township residents only, and proof of residency will be enforced.