Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Planned In Fairless Hills

FAIRLESS HILLS, PA — Bucks County's first household hazardous waste collection of 2020 has been scheduled in Fairless Hills.

The drop-off will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Aug. 8 at Bucks County Technical High School, at 610 Wistar Rd.

Sponsored by Bucks County Commissioners and the Bucks County Planning Commission, the event will be held rain or shine, assuming Bucks County remains in the green phase of Pennsylvania's coronavirus reopening plan.

Previously scheduled collections this year have been canceled because of the pandemic. The Aug. 8 event will be held differently from past events, with no contact and registration required.

To register, you may go to the collection’s Eventbrite page, click the "Register" button and select the time you plan to arrive from a list of available time slots. All items must be in the trunk of a car, the cargo area of an SUV or the bed of a truck.

When residents arrive, they will be asked to remain in their vehicles while staff removes items. The driver must be the only person in the vehicle and must be wearing a mask. The new regulations have been put in place by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The event is for household items only and nothing will be accepted from businesses, industries or other institutions.

Items to be accepted at the event include:

• pesticides
• oil-based paint and paint products
• automotive products (gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze)
• pool chemicals
• degreasers and cleaners
• mercury thermostats
• fluorescent tubes
• fire extinguishers
• mini propane tanks of two pounds or less
• lead-acid batteries (car, marine, motorcycle and truck); and rechargeable, lithium or button-type household batteries

There is a limit of 25 gallons or 220 pounds of materials per household.

Unacceptable items include, but are not limited to:

• TVs and other electronics
• appliances
• asbestos
• medical waste
• explosives, radioactive and unidentified waste
• large gas cylinders
• tires
• smoke detectors

If you have water-based latex paint or alkaline batteries, these can be safely put in your regular trash collection and therefore will not be accepted at the collection.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to keep all products in their original containers with labels intact and lids on tight, place materials securely in a box to prevent spilling and wrap leaking containers in newspaper and place in a plastic container for transport.

They are urged to not mix materials, not leave hazardous materials loaded in a vehicle or other hot, unventilated areas for long periods and not smoke near any chemicals.

Those seeking more information may visit Bucks County's recycling page.