Take care of electronic, hazardous wastes all at once.Byline: RECYCLING By Jeff Bishop For The Register-Guard It's pairings such as turkey and dressing, the red-and-white stripes of a Christmas candy cane or savory savory, name for any plant of the genus Satureja, aromatic herbs and subshrubs of the family Labiatae (mint family). Commonly cultivated as border ornamentals or potherbs are two species of the Mediterranean region and surrounding areas: summer savory (S. latkes and sweet chocolate gelt that help give the holiday season its unique flavor. These delicacies feed the soul and help remind us of the traditional values Traditional values refer to those beliefs, moral codes, and mores that are passed down from generation to generation within a culture, subculture or community. Since the late 1970s in the U.S. of togetherness and harmony we cherish throughout this special season. It's an appropriate time, then, for Lane County to announce a new kind of togetherness. Yes, holiday lovers and friends of the Earth, you'll soon be able - at last - to recycle electronic waste and dispose of household hazardous wastes Household hazardous waste (HHW) is the term for common household chemicals and substances for which the owner no longer has a use. Exhibiting many of the same dangerous characteristics as fully regulated hazardous waste, HHW is not regulated by the EPA. in the same trip. First, though, let's put this momentous event in its proper historical context. Lane County's hazardous waste Hazardous waste Any solid, liquid, or gaseous waste materials that, if improperly managed or disposed of, may pose substantial hazards to human health and the environment. Every industrial country in the world has had problems with managing hazardous wastes. program doesn't quite date back to the time of the Maccabees, but the Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. Department's Waste Management Division has been collecting household hazardous waste since 1986. That's when the first free household hazardous waste roundup event drew 140 customers and 5,000 pounds of paint, pesticides and cleaners to the Glenwood site. At the time, it seemed like a lot. Though popular during the next 10 years or so, the semi-annual roundups were hectic, and customers often waited patiently in Soviet-grade lines before finally reaching the unloading area. Like Woodstock - or Altamont - 1997's last roundup burns on in the memories of those who lived it; overwhelmed event staff struggled to keep up with nearly 2,000 participants and more than 50 tons of chemical wastes. Clearly, the county had outgrown the simple roundup event. Fortunately, 1998 brought a permanent household hazardous waste collection facility to the Glenwood transfer site, and we've been offering more convenient (and still free) weekly service ever since. Meanwhile, electronic waste such as obsolete computers and peripherals, superannuated su·per·an·nu·at·ed adj. 1. Retired or ineffective because of advanced age: "Nothing is more tiresome than a superannuated pedagogue" Henry Adams. 2. televisions and superfluous cell phones have become the fastest-growing category of hazardous waste. It may seem odd to think of a used TV or computer as hazardous waste, but circuit boards contain surprising amounts of heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. such as lead, cadmium cadmium (kăd`mēəm) [from cadmia, Lat. for calamine, with which cadmium is found associated], metallic chemical element; symbol Cd; at. no. 48; at. wt. 112.41; m.p. 321°C;; b.p. 765°C;; sp. gr. 8. and selenium selenium (səlē`nēəm), nonmetallic chemical element; symbol Se; at. no. 34; at. wt. 78.96; m.p. 217°C;; b.p. about 685°C;; sp. gr. 4.81 at 20°C;; valence −2, +4, or +6. , and a standard computer monitor or television contains several pounds of radiation-shielding lead. These metals can leach out of discarded electronics and pollute pol·lute v. 1. To make unfit for or harmful to living things, especially by the addition of waste matter; contaminate. 2. To make less suitable for an activity, especially by the introduction of unwanted factors. the environment. Although the Commodore 64s, Atari systems and primitive, brick-sized cell phones have been stacking up for a generation now, it has been only over the past few years that effective, environmentally responsible recycling technologies have emerged. So, it wasn't until 2004 that Lane County began to offer a weekly collection program for `e-waste.' Like paint and pesticides, e-waste is collected at Glenwood's hazardous waste collection center, but because of vast differences in the way these waste streams are handled, packaged and shipped, collections for the two waste types were held on different days of the week. While necessary for staff, this has been inconvenient for customers, so we've worked hard to find a way to combine the two programs. Beginning January, collections for e-waste and household hazardous waste will be held concurrently. Because Lane County's garbage rates haven't been adjusted to allow for free e-waste recycling, user fees will continue to apply for e-waste; however, household hazardous waste disposal is still free. Collections will be held every week, plus two Saturdays per month. To make an appointment or to get information about scheduling, e-waste recycling fees or directions, call the Lane County Waste Management Division from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 682-3111. Also, while you're unwrapping those new toys this year, don't let that pile of packing foam ruin your festive mood. Lane County will sponsor a free block foam recycling event at the Glenwood transfer site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. Call 682-4120 for more details. Jeff Bishop is waste management superintendent for the Lane County Public Works Department Many governments worldwide have had departments or ministries referred to as the Public Works Department either formally or informally. In Australia: - New South Wales -
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