We’ve been unintentionally stockpiling near-empty cans of household hazardous materials in our basement for years. It may be as simple as a paint can that hosts just a tiny bit of ancient residue, but our eco-anxiety prevents us from throwing it in the trash. So, every year around this time we aim to get to one of the two annual hazardous waste drop-off days that the city of Boston organizes…
Fortunately, another drop-off day is taking place THIS Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 9 am until 2 pm in West Roxbury. You can bring up to 50 pounds of toxins (that would be some hard-core stockpiling!) to the Public Works Yard for recycling and proper disposal. They’ll accept anything marked toxic, flammable, reactive, corrosive or poisonous, including paint, motor oil, pesticides, solvents, glues, bleach or ammonia-based cleaners, weed killers, photo chemicals, and car batteries. Oh, and tires (!) too. DO NOT bring computers, monitors, tvs or other electronics (the city organizes a different event for recycling these items).
And remember that the best way to deal with toxins is to buy less of them in the first place, substituting as often as you can with low or non-toxic alternates.
Proof of residency required. Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner Street, West Roxbury.
Has anyone attended the Boston Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off day? Any words of wisdom?
(picture from Ohio EPA website.)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
What is with putting "Boston" items on the New York board? It is really confusing! Plus, it got me up early this morning ready to drop off my hazardous waste, before realizing I'd have to drive to Boston to do it.
Please, let's keep New York and Boston separate.
view bronxmaria's profile
bronxmaria - it said boston at least 6 times througout the post... unless i'm an ignorant dummy because there's a boston, NY... in which case, sorry, i am a jackass!
but i would like to see a new city page for beantown... with our own scavenger, shopping guide, classifieds, and all the other things i love and envy so much about the others!!!
view closertotheocean's profile
This is fantastic! I can finally take back the batteries that have been stockpiling under the sink for years. Thanks for the heads up, Kyle!
And not to take away from the topic of the post, but I agree with bronxmaria, AT:Boston needs its own home.
view ajh's profile
Yes, no. I thought the 4 primary cities were pretty much just the captains of their zones, and Boston and D.C. are part of the New York zone. Calm down everyone, this is not an emergency.
view K T G's profile
sorry... lest i forget... thank you Kyle! my girlfriend is an oil painter, which means we have several mason jars full of mineral spirits down in the (well ventilated) basement.. i finally know where to ditch them!
view closertotheocean's profile
Cambridge has a different schedule. The summer drop off was last week (June 21). The next drop off is October 25.
view siobhan.'s profile
Our smallish town of Tucson has a Household Hazardous Waste drop-off site open every Saturday morning. I guess we're lucky. They told me not to save batteries, that they are no longer made with hazardous material. And what a relief to drop off about 30 cans of accumulated house paint.
view jen_g's profile